Zak Norris- BA (Hons) Filmmaking
BIRTHDAY BOY
Zak Norris is a Southampton raised writer and director based in Manchester, drawn to stories about faith, transformation and the quiet ways people unravel. His filmmaking explores emotionally complex characters and intimate human experiences through the lens of genre based cinema. Many of his films explore the tension between vulnerability and repression, often through striking visuals and psychologically charged narratives.
His work frequently blends naturalistic performances with palpable, atmospheric imagery, using genre as a medium to explore emotional states and interpersonal conflict. Influenced by the works of Charlie Kaufman and David Cronenberg, Zak’s films aim to find balance between grounded social realism and heightened cinematic language to create surreal worlds founded in emotional realism.
Character psychology is central to much of his storytelling, with a particular interest for characters caught in moments of emotional crisis or personal transformation. Whether working within drama, horror or more experimental cinema, his use of careful visual composition and an emphasis on atmosphere, he aims to portray the transience of identity, faith and connection.
His latest short film, BIRTHDAY BOY, continues this methodology, using emotional and physical decay to build a narrative rooted in gothic horror and emotional realism. The film explores the transformative powers of grief and faith through the use of visceral imagery paired with grounded performances to create a haunting portrait of a family coming apart.
