ROLES

Director/Writer/Producer/Editor

Writer

Director

Producer

Editor

PROJECTS

Documentary/Commercial/Fiction Film

Writer

Director

Producer

Editor

EXPERIENCE

5 years

Aug 2023

Present 

Nolan Earnest is an emerging Alaskan filmmaker with a passion for writing and directing. The root of Nolan’s love for film is the medium's ability to convey ideas through non-verbal communication while making distinct impacts on viewers. 


He continually seeks to grow as an artist by exploring new techniques and styles within each project, whether big or small, to create new forms of storytelling. His creative style centers around strong community and collaboration. As a director, Nolan is involved in all areas of production, from cinematography to production design. 


This mindset has led to him producing work across genres, such as blending styles to create something distinctive. An Unsentimental Future (2025), Nolan's most recent work, mixes documentary-style interviews of Alaska’s youth with animation. The imaginative solutions coming from this younger generation's perspective on climate change guides the direction of the film’s animation.


Nolan’s fictional work often expands from real-life stories and people, looking towards the awkward absurdity in life with off-kilter humor. His fictional pieces often involve characters with strange desires and rituals that guide them through life, such as his film Strange Embrace (2024), which takes the commonly intimidating experience of meeting a partner’s family and attempts to rationalize it through an unfamiliar world.

As a director, my goal is not to conduct but to inspire a group into a singular vision. By conversing with each collaborator, we can refine the project’s original intention.

Creating limitations in my work has also led to new creative possibilities. In many projects, some obstacles limit possibilities. This should be seen as a blessing to work within restraints. 

I am often inspired by a diverse group of creators that reach beyond film, from fashion designers like Jonathan Anderson and Virgil Abloh to mentors in my personal life like my mother. 

My film inspirations include Bong Joon-Ho, Alice Rorwacher, Hayao Miyazaki, Luca Guadignino, and David Lynch. Each building distinct worlds in their work, whether for a short commercial or feature-length film, there is no project where world-building isn’t emphasized. 

One long-term goal is to bring together a long-term group of collaborators. Every great director builds and holds on to individuals they enjoy working with. From Ingmar Bergman to Wes Anderson, there is an emphasis on working with people they care about. This also includes bringing non-film individuals into projects to create different collaborations. 


RECOGNITIONS

Alaska Center ICE Seed Fund Award 2023-25 | Climate Documentary: An Unsentimental Future

Butrovich Building, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA


Miriam Frances Boswell Award 2024 | Outstanding Bachelor Degree Candidate

C. W. Davis Concert Hall, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA


Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year 2024

Westmark Conference Center, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA


GNAC All-Academic 2021-23 | 3x


URSA Fall Student Project Award 2021 | A Case Study for Immortality Film

Bunnel Building, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA

Climate Documentary: An Unsentimental Future | Alaska Center ICE Seed Fund Award 2023-25

Butrovich Building, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA


Outstanding Bachelor Degree Candidate | Miriam Frances Boswell Award 2024

C. W. Davis Concert Hall, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA


Male Scholar-Athelete of the Year 2024

Westmark Conference Center, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA


3x GNAC All-Academic 2021-23


A Case Study for Immortality Film | URSA Fall Student Project Award 2021

Bunnel Building, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA

EDUCATION

University of Alaska Fairbanks - B.A. in Film and Performing Arts

Queen Mary University of London - Study Abroad


DIRECTING MINDSET

As a director, my goal is to inspire a group towards a singular vision. By working with each collaborator individually, I believe that a project's potential can expand far beyond its original intention. As an emerging filmmaker, there are naturally many limitations I face as I begin creating my work. However, instead of viewing these obstacles as artistic limits, I have found that they are often a blessing and lead to new creative possibilities.


I am inspired by a diverse group of creators that reach beyond film, from fashion designers like Jonathan Anderson and Virgil Abloh, to mentors in my personal life like my mother. My film inspirations include Bong Joon-Ho, Alice Rorwacher, Hayao Miyazaki, Luca Guadignino, and David Lynch, for their ability to build distinct worlds in their work. Whether for a short commercial or a feature-length film, I believe world-building should be utilized on every creative project regardless of the type.


One of my long-term goals is to bring together a consistent group of collaborators. Every great director, from Ingmar Bergman to Wes Anderson, holds on to individuals they enjoy working with and builds a strong creative community. There is a strength in forming and nurturing these connections, including bringing non-film individuals into film projects. I aim to create an open and collaborative environment in my work to make the process more meaningful for all collaborators.

As a director, my goal is not to conduct but to inspire a group into a singular vision. By conversing with each collaborator, we can refine the project’s original intention.

Creating limitations in my work has also led to new creative possibilities. In many projects, some obstacles limit possibilities. This should be seen as a blessing to work within restraints. 

I am often inspired by a diverse group of creators that reach beyond film, from fashion designers like Jonathan Anderson and Virgil Abloh to mentors in my personal life like my mother. 

My film inspirations include Bong Joon-Ho, Alice Rorwacher, Hayao Miyazaki, Luca Guadignino, and David Lynch. Each building distinct worlds in their work, whether for a short commercial or feature-length film, there is no project where world-building isn’t emphasized. 

One long-term goal is to bring together a long-term group of collaborators. Every great director builds and holds on to individuals they enjoy working with. From Ingmar Bergman to Wes Anderson, there is an emphasis on working with people they care about. This also includes bringing non-film individuals into projects to create different collaborations. 


OUTSIDE FILM

FAMILY

My family will always be my rock I can hold onto in life.


RUNNING

Running has been a consistent part of my life, both as a creative outlet and as a way to find peace in my days.

COOKING/BAKING

The act of cooking and baking for those I love has become an incredible enjoyment of mine.

WORLD CINEMA

Watching films from around the world constantly presents new forms of storytelling to learn from.