Writer/Director.
Louisa Connolly-Burnham is an award-winning director and screenwriter hailing from Birmingham who founded her production Thimble Films in 2019. Louisa is an active member of Directors UK, WFTV and Cinesisters and is currently serving on the jury for the prestigious 2024 BAFTA x Rocliffe script competition. In October 2024, The BFI awarded Louisa a prestigious scholarship to the Female Film Club in recognition of her work to date.
In January 2024 Louisa wrapped principal photography on SISTER WIVES the short which she wrote, directed, produced & starred in alongside BAFTA-winner Mia McKenna-Bruce (How To Have Sex). The short has been acquired by Film4 and is currently streaming on Channel4. The film also won the acclaimed ‘Best British Film’ sponsored by Pinewood Studios and ‘Best Actress’ at The Iris Prize.
SISTER WIVES recently began its festival run at Oscar-qualifying festivals HollyShorts (Best LGBTQIA+ Film), Deadcenter and Out On Film (Best Drama Short Nom). Additionally, it's been selected for BAFTA-qualifying festivals Cambridge Film Festival and Bolton Film Festival, plus BIFA-qualifying festivals Brighton Rocks (with a Best Director win), Sunrise Film Festival (Best British Film, Director, Cinematography + Sound Design Wins), Unrestricted View Film Festival (Best Actress Nom + Best Costume Nom) and Spirit of Independence Film Festival, London Breeze Film Festival (Best UK Short Fiction Win), North East Film Festival, plus many more.
The short script for SISTER WIVES won the highly-acclaimed First Flights Film Fund in association with Goldfinch & Kodak whose previous winner AN IRISH GOODBYE won the Academy Award in 2023. The script was also a semi-finalist at Oscar-qualifying FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival & won the Sunday Shorts Script Competition.
Her directorial debut THE CALL CENTRE, which she also wrote, had a successful festival run, including the Oscar-qualifying Foyle Film Festival with a ‘Best International Film’ nom, BAFTA-qualifying Aesthetica Film Festival and Underwire Film Festival with a ‘Best Producer’ nom, whilst also winning the audience awards at ÉCU Film Festival & Sunday Shorts Film Festival. THE CALL CENTRE currently has 2+ million views on Omeleto making it one of the most successful films on the platform to date.
Work.
THE CALL CENTRE (2020)
Aesthetica Film Festival (BAFTA-qualifying)
Underwire Film Festival (BAFTA-qualifying & Best Producer Nom)
Foyle Film Festival (Oscar-qualifying & Best International Film Nom)
London Lift-Off Film Festival
Sunday Shorts Film Festival (Best Film Award & Audience Award Winner )
ÉCU The European Independent Film Festival (Audience Award Winner)
Womxnchester International Film Festival (Best Film Nom)
Scene It Awards (Best Scene Award)
THE TRACK (2023)
Carmarthen Bay Film Festival (BAFTA-qualifying)
Manchester Film Festival (BIFA-qualifying)
Durban International Film Festival (Oscar-qualifying)
British Urban Film Festival (BAFTA-qualifying)
London Independent Film Festival
Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival
London Lift-Off Film Festival World Indie Film Awards 2022 (Best Director & Best Actor)
THE CEILING (2024)
Exit 6 Film Festival (BIFA-qualifying)
Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival
World Indie Awards (Best Acting Ensemble Award)
San Diego Short Film Festival
FLEETING (2024)
Brighton Rocks Film Festival (BIFA-qualifying + Best Director)
Catalyst Film Festival (IFTA-qualifying)
Disappear Here Film Festival (IFTA-qualifying)
15th Underground Cinema Awards (IFTA-qualifying)
Kino Film Festival (Semi-Finalist + BIFA-qualifying)
Fastnet Film Festival
Achill Island Film Festival
SISTER WIVES (2024)
First Flights x Goldfinch Film Fund (Winner)
HollyShorts Film Festival (Oscar-qualifying + Best LGBTQIA+ Film Win)
Deadcenter Film Festival (Oscar-qualifying)
Out On Film Film Festival (Oscar-qualifying + Best Drama Nom)
Iris Prize (BAFTA-qualifying + Best Short Nom)
Unrestricted View (BIFA-qualifying, Best Actress Nom + Costume Win)
Brighton Rocks Film Festival (BIFA-qualifying + Best Director Win)
Sunrise Film Festival (BIFA-qualifying + Best British Film + Best Director Win)
Cambridge Film Festival (BAFTA-qualifying)
Bolton Film Festival (BIFA-qualifying)
London Breeze Film Festival (BIFA-qualifying)
North East International Film Festival (BIFA-qualifying)
Spirit of Independence Film Festival (BIFA-qualifying)
Kino Film Festival (Finalist + BIFA-qualifying)
Flickers: Rhode Island Film Festival (Semi-finalist)
Oxford Shorts (Festival Choice Award)
Cindependent Film Festival (Best Intl Film Winner)
This Is England Film Festival