Nicolas Loir, born in France in 1981, comes from a diverse background of French, Vietnamese, and German heritage. Remarkably talented, he achieved his baccalaureate at the age of 16 and furthered his education in the United States, obtaining the American equivalent. Back in France, he pursued his passion for cinema at ESRA in Paris, specializing in the Image section. It was through the guidance of Serge Bromberg, the founder of Lobster Films, that Nicolas discovered the profound aesthetics, subtlety, and sensitivity of cinematic art.
His breakthrough moment came when he worked on the Antibodies music video, directed by Cyrille De Vignemont (aka Danakil) for the group Poni Hoax. This opportunity launched his career, and he went on to collaborate on approximately thirty music videos for renowned artists like Snoop Dogg, Moby, Aloe Blacc, Major Lazer, M83, Vanessa Paradis, M, Alt-J, Etienne de Crécy, Justice, Liam Gallagher, and The Blaze, among others. Notable directors such as François Rousselet, Fleur et Manu, Yoann Lemoine, Rudi Rosenberg, and Romain Gavras also collaborated with him on these projects.
Nicolas earned numerous accolades for his outstanding work, including the prestigious Camera d’Or at the Camerimage Festival in 2013 for his contribution to the Cold Win video by Ghostpoet, directed by Cyrille De Vignemont. He also received awards and nominations for his work on Gesaffelstein's Pursuit music video, directed by Fleur & Manu, at various international festivals.
His remarkable technical skills and artistic sensitivity have earned him a well-deserved reputation as one of the most talented cinematographers of his generation. His growing acclaim led him to venture into the commercial sector, collaborating with production companies such as Wanda, Insurrection (formerly Télécréateurs), and Iconoclast. Working with directors like Cyrille De Vignemont and Wilfrid Brimo, he continued to make a name for himself, and his career reached a turning point when he co-directed the technical teaser for the Canal + series Carlos in 2010.
In addition to his work in the music video industry, Nicolas also delved into the realm of fiction in the early 2000s. He lent his expertise as a director of photography to remarkable short films, some of which were featured at prestigious events like the Cannes Film Festival. Notable mentions include Ceci n’est pas un film de cowboy by Benjamin Parent, l’Enfance d’un chef by Antoine de Bary (nominated for the César for best short film in 2017), and Après Suzanne by Félix Moati. Furthermore, he has contributed to five feature films, including titles like Müetter, Le Nouveau, Alone, My Days of Glory, and How I became a superhero.
Nicolas Loir became a member of the AFC (Association Française des directeurs de la photographie Cinématographique) in 2020, sponsored by Caroline Champetier and Julien Poupard, further solidifying his position in the film industry. In 2021, he worked on the Totems series for Amazon and collaborated with director Cédric Jimenez on the film Novembre, which was selected Out of Competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022. Additionally, he teamed up with Jeanne Herry for her upcoming film titled I Will Always See Your Faces, scheduled for release in March 2023.
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