Nic Blower

Biography

Nic is a filmmaker and senior lecturer, whose practice-as-research spans both documentary and fiction. At the University of Essex Nic lectures and supervises students in fiction and documentary filmmaking from undergraduate to PhD. As an industry specialist Nic has worked extensively for the BBC and Channel 4, producing and directing documentaries and drama documentaries. His critically acclaimed film 'Transplant 'followed both sides of the organ donation story, a first for UK television. His work has taken him around the world, filming in Lebanon, Palestine, Nepal and the US. His subjects have included neurosurgery in 'The Brain Hospital' for BBC 1, social housing in the series 'Neighbourhood Watched' for BBC 1, missing people in the 'The Day They Disappeared' for BBC 1 and forensic science in the film 'No Ordinary Murder' for BBC 2. Nic’s approach focuses on deep access, combining Direct Cinema and Cinéma Vérité. His fiction short film 'Periphery' won awards at Buxton Film Festival and Lakeshorts Film Festival in Canada. Whilst at Essex directed and produced 'LIFTED' (2019), an award winning documentary about military veterans with PTSD. In 2021 he produced 'WE'RE IN THIS TOO' a documentary filmed by four young people (aged 14-15) as they negotiate their wellbeing during the Covid-19 lockdowns. 'WITT' won a LAIRA Research Impact Award, the Best Creative and Cultural Impact Award at the UoE, received an Honourable Mention at the BAFTSS Practice Research Awards, and was selected for the UoE Film Festival of Social Sciences at Firstsite Colchester.

Qualifications

• M.A. Film Studies University of Essex, (2012)

Appointments

University of Essex

• Senior Lecturer ASER, Literature, Film & Theatre Studies, University of Essex (1/9/2018 - present)