Chris Overton

One of the defining aspects of Chris’ filmmaking is his close observation of people and behaviour, allowing him to notice small, often overlooked details and translate them into work with a clear, grounded visual point of view.

Like many directors, Chris’ love of filmmaking began in his early teens as a way of entertaining himself and his friends, but it quickly developed into a lasting passion. Coming from a working-class background, his work is shaped by a strong connection to real lives and real communities, something that runs through both his documentary and narrative projects.

He made his directorial debut with The Silent Child, for which he received the Academy Award® for Best Live Action Short Film. The film went on to win over 50 international awards worldwide, selling to HBO, BBC and Disney+. Chris is known for his ability to elicit subtle, honest performances, particularly when working with children and non-actors, drawing on his documentary experience as well as his commercial work for brands such as Xiaomi and Huawei. His campaign for Huawei went on to win seven Cannes Lions (including four Gold), eight One Show awards, three D&ADs, and a Grand Prix at Eurobest.