Lou Burns - award winning screenwriter
Bringing dramatical storytelling to life through compelling and captivating writing
Bringing dramatical storytelling to life through compelling and captivating writing
Lou is an award winning RTS nominated writer and director from the North East. With a background in social work, social care, and teaching, and having worked, and lived, in some of the most socially and economically deprived areas in the north, Lou draws on this lived experience to create working class drama and comedy that explores social realist themes such as poverty, injustice, inequality, corruption, and community.
2024 - Short Film Drama - Toast Soldiers
2024 - Short Film Drama - Bruised
2025 - Short Film Comedy/Drama - Gan Canny
Check out Lou's work here:
"GAN CANNY" - written and co-directed:
* Miraban UK Film Awards 2025 - Best Short Film (Honourable Mention) *
* Folkestone Film Festival 2025 - Best Editing and Sound Design (Winner) *
* UK Film Awards 2025 - Best Comedy Drama (Winner) *
* UK Film Awards 2025 - Best Newcomer - Lily Storey (Winner) *
* UK Film Awards 2025 - Best Music (Finalist) *
* The Bay International Film Festival 2026 - Best Northern Short Film (Nominated)*
* The Indie-Lincs International Film Festival 2026 - Best Northern Short Film (Selected) - 07.02.2026 *
* The Barcelona Indie Awards 2026 - Best UK Short Film (Winner) *
* London Director Talents Movie Awards 2026 - (Nominated x 5) Best Indie Short Film, Best Crime Short Film, Best Trailer, Best Sound Design, Best Costume Design - 28.02.2026*
* The Northampton Film Festival 2026 - Best Narrative Short Film (Nominated) - 01.03.2026*
* Glowlare Short Film Festival 2026 - Best Short Film (Nominated x 9) - Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Score, Best Director, Best Film, Best Low Budget - 18.04.2026*
*Athlone Film Festival 2026 - Best Short Film (Selected) - 25.04.2026*
* Royal Television Society North East & Borders Awards 2026 - Non-broadcast scripted and unscripted (Nominated) - 28.02.2026*
* Manchester Film Festival - Best Short Film (Selection) 28.03.2026 *
* Dragonfly International Film Festival - Best Production Design (Nominated) 8.03.2026 *
* Funny Life Film Festival - Best Short Film (Selection) 21.03.2026 *
* Tyne Valley Film Festival - Screening 22.03.2026 *
* Fisheye Film Festival - Best Comedy Short (Selection) 15.04.2026 *
* WFTV Festival 2026 - Manchester Screening 10.03.2026 *
"BRUISED" - written and co-directed:
* UKOWF Awards 2024 - Best Short Film (Winner) *
* UKOWF Awards 2024 - Best Screenplay (Winner) *
* UKOWF Awards 2024 - Best Actress (Winner) *
* Feel the Reel Int. Film Festival 2024 - Best Original Score (Winner) *
* Emerging Talent Film Festival Awards 2024 – Best Social Drama (Winner) *
* London Women's Film Festival 2024 - Best Short Drama (Winner) *
* UK Film Awards 2024 – Best Short Film (Finalist) *
* UK Film Awards 2024 – Best Screenplay (Finalist) *
* UK Film Awards 2024 – Best Supporting Actor (Nominated) *
* UK Film Awards 2024 - Best Actress (Winner) *
* TVIFF Awards 2024 - Parmo d’Or, Best North East Film (Honourable Mention) *
* Global Shorts Awards 2024 - Best Short Film (Special Mention) *
* Glow Flare Short Film Festival 2025 - Best Film (Nominated) *
* Glow Flare Short Film Festival 2025 - Best Screenplay (Nominated) *
* Glow Flare Short Film Festival 2025 - Best Director (Nominated) *
* Glow Flare Short Film Festival 2025 - Best Actress (Nominated) *
* Glow Flare Short Film Festival 2025 - Best Supporting Actress (Nominated) *
* Boundless Film Festival 2025 - Best Short Film (Nominated) *
* Manchester Lift-Off Global Festival 2025 - Best Short Film (Nominated) *
* Berlin Short Film Awards 2025 - Best Short Drama (Winner) *
* Liverpool Indie Awards 2025 - Best UK Short (Nominated) *
* Liverpool Indie Awards 2025 - Best Actress (Nominated) *
* Bedford Independent Film Festival 2025 - Best UK Short Film (Nominated) *
* International OWF Awards 2025 - Best Short Film (Winner) *
* International OWF Awards 2025 - Best Screenplay (Nominated) *
* International OWF Awards 2025 - Best Actress (Winner) *
* International OWF Awards 2025 - Best Director (Nominated) *
* International OWF Awards 2025 - Best Original Score (Winner) *
* The Romford Film Festival 2025 - Best Short Film (Nominated) *
* New York Film and Female Awards 2025 - Best Drama Short (Winner) *
* New York Film and Female Awards 2025 - Best Actress (Winner) *
* Power 24 International Film Festival 2025 - Best Short Film (Winner) *
"TOAST SOLDIERS" writer:
* Sunderland Shorts Film Festival 2024 – Judges Recognition Award (Jury Prize) *
You can send me a message or ask me a general question using this form.
I will do my best to get back to you soon!
Copyright © 2026 Lou Burns - All Rights Reserved.