Burbank International Film Festival 2024
Winner! Best U.S. Student Filmmaker Award
Hunter Nickless
Actor / Filmmaker / Photographer
SAG-AFTRA Eligible
Hunter Nickless, with dual US/Canadian citizenship, launched his career in modeling at age 8 and quickly found success in film, TV, and commercials (View Casting Profiles). By 12, he was creating his own short films and exploring photography. His award-winning debut, “Haunted for Life,” made at just 12, earned international recognition. To date, Hunter’s four short films have received over 100 accolades at film festivals worldwide in categories such as Best Young Actor and Best Young Filmmaker.
Hunter loves the world of arts and entertainment. He’s always busy working on new film and photography projects and is open to roles in films and commercials. He continually trains on his craft and studies film production at a Performing Arts High School. This mix of learning and creating shows Hunter’s strong commitment to his career.
Direct Contact:
Hunter Nickless
hunter.p.nickless@gmail.com
IMDB
Social:
@hunterpnickless (Official)
@hunternickless_photography
@hunternickless1 (TikTok)
Film Festival Accolades and Official Selections
Naples International Film Festival
2025
Official Selection
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All American High School Film Festival
2025
Winner! – Best Emerging Talent – Hunter Nickless
Nomination – Best Cinematography – Hunter Nickless
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Flicker’s Rhode Island International Film Festival
2025
Semi-Finalist
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Red Movie Awards
2025
Best Romance Short
Nomination – Best Ensemble
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Catalina Film Festival
2025
Official Selection
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Matera Film Festival
2025
Official Selection
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DaVinci International Film Festival
2025
Official Selection
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New Jersey Film Awards
2025
Best High School Short
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Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival
2025
Most Outstanding Performances – (Sofia Xavier, Hunter Nickless)
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Best Shorts Competition
2025
Award of Merit Special Mention: Young Filmmaker – (Hunter Nickless)
Award of Merit Special Mention: Cinematography – (Hunter Nickless)
Award of Merit Special Mention: Editing – (Hunter Nickless)
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Screen It International Film Festival
2025
Best Cinematography (High School)
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Ice Movie Awards
2025
Best Romance Short
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Coronado Island Film Festival
2025
Best Highschool Short
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(‘GONE” has received 50 Accolades)
Hang on to your Short Film Festival
2025
Best High School Short
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Beyond Hollywood Film Festival
2025
Official Selection
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London Director Awards
2025
Finalist
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Garden State Film Festival
2025
Best High School Drama Short
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Global INDIE Filmmaker Awards
2024
Gold Award – Best Writer
Gold Award – Most Original Concept
Gold Award – Best Student Film
Gold Award – Best Short Movie
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St Louis International Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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Naples International Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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Burbank International Film Festival
2024
Best U.S. High School Filmmaker
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Raleigh Film and Art Festival
2024
Official Selection
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Teen Truth Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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MY HERO International Film Festival
2024
Best High School Short Film
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Screaming Ostrich International Film Festival
2024
Best Film Narrative
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Silicon Beach Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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Indie Memphis Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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LA Student Film Fest
2024
Finalist
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All American High School Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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Flicker’s Rhode Island International Film Festival
2024
Semi-Finalist
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Broadway International Film Festival Los Angeles
2024
Official Selection
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SAFILM-San Antonio Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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Marina Del Rey Film Festival
2024
Best Short Screenplay
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Red Movie Awards
2024
Best Drama Short
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California International Short Film Festival (CA Film)
2024
Nominated – Best Young Filmmaker
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Lighthouse International Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival
2024
Gold Remi Winner: Student Film
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KIDS FIRST! Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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Do It Your Damn Self National Youth Film Festival
2024
Winner! Top 11 selected in person immersive
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MegaFlix Film Awards
2024
Gold – Best Movie Short
Gold – Best Performance (Hunter Nickless)
Gold – Best Writer
Gold – Most Creative Concept
Gold – Best Student Film
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Ridgewood International Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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San Francisco Arthouse Short Festival
2024
Semi-Finalist: Student Film
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Serbest International Film Festival
2024
Semi-Finalist
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Filmmakers Connect
2024
Best Student Film
Best Original Story
Best Young Filmmaker (Hunter Nickless)
Best Young Actor (Hunter Nickless)
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One-Reeler Short Film Competition
2024
Honorable Mention
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Independent Short Awards
2024
Silver Award: Best Young Actor (Hunter Nickless)
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Los Angeles Independent Short Awards
2024
Silver Award: Best Young Actor (Hunter Nickless)
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Indie Short Fest
2024
Honorable Mention: Young Actor (Hunter Nickless)
Honorable Mention: Best Young Filmmaker (Hunter Nickless)
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Los Angeles Film Awards (LAFA)
2024
Best Young Actor (Hunter Nickless)
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New Jersey Film Awards
2024
Best High School Short
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Virginia Emerging Filmmakers Festival
2024
Best Young Filmmaker (Hunter Nickless)
Honorable Mention: Best Drama Short
Semi-Finalist: Best Editing (Hunter Nickless)
Honorable Mention: Best Actor (Hunter Nickless)
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IndieX Film Fest
2024
Honorable Mention: Young Actor (Hunter Nickless)
Nominated: Best Young Filmmaker (Hunter Nickless)
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Robinson Film Awards
2024
Finalist: Student Film
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Actors Awards
2024
Best Young Actor (Hunter Nickless)
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Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival
2024
Honorable Mention: Best Student Film
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New York Film Awards
2024
Best Student Film
Best Young Filmmaker (Hunter Nickless)
Best Young Actor (Hunter Nickless)
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Crown Point International Film Festival
2024
Best Student Short
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New York Istanbul Short Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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Best Shorts Competition
2024
Award of Merit: Young Filmmaker (Hunter Nickless)
Award of Merit: Film Short (Student)
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Accolade Global Film Competition
2024
Award of Merit: Young Filmmaker (Hunter Nickless)
Award of Merit: Actor (Hunter Nickless)
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Festigious Los Angeles
2024
Official Selection
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Top Shorts
2024
Best Young Actor (Hunter Nickless)
Jury Award – Young Filmmaker
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Screen Test Student Fest
2024
Official Selection
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Indie Vegas Film Festival
2024
Best Student Film
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(‘Beyond the Gate” has received 25 Accolades)
Global INDIE Filmmaker Awards
2024
Gold Award – Best Short Movie
Gold Award – Best Special Effects
Gold Award – Best Student Film
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Raleigh Film and Art Festival
2024
Best Scene in a High School Short
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Silicon Beach Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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Catalina Film Festival
2024
Finalist
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Screen It International Film Festival
2024
Best Cinematography
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Marina Del Rey Film Festival
2024
Best Short Screenplay
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WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival
2024
Gold Remi Winner: Cinematography
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The IndieFEST Film Awards
2023
Award of Recognition: Young Filmmaker (Hunter Nickless)
Award of Recognition: Animation (Hunter Nickless)
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LA Student Film Fest
2024
Finalist
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IndieXFest
2023
Best Mobile Short
Honorable Mention: Young Filmmaker (Hunter Nickless)
Best Young Actor (Sam Broome)
Best Young Actress (Chance Hagen)
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Paris International Short Festival
2023
Best Student Short
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Austin International Art Festival
2023
Semi-Finalist: Best High School Short
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Festigious International Film Festival
2023
Best Young Filmmaker (Hunter Nickless)
Best Young Actor (Sam Broome)
Best Young Actress (Chance Hagen)
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Los Angeles Film Awards
2023
Best Child Actor (Sam Broome)
Best Special Effects (Hunter Nickless)
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Golden Lion Awards Student Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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Accolade Global Film Competition
2023
Award of Recognition: Best Young Filmmaker (Hunter Nickless)
Award of Recognition: Cinematography (Hunter Nickless)
Award of Recognition: Editing (Hunter Nickless)
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Kids First!
2024
Official Selection
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Fortean Film Festival
2024
Gold: Best Sci-Fi Short Film
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Ridgewood Guild’s International Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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Central Michigan International Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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Actor Awards
2024
Best Young Actress (Chance Hagen)
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Sparrowland Short Film Festival
2024
Honorable Mention: Student Film
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(‘Haunted for Life: Encounter” has received 15 Accolades)
Global INDIE Filmmaker Awards
2024
Gold Award – Best Low-Budget Film
Gold Award – Best Short Movie
Gold Award – Best Student Film
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Silicon Beach Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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Marina Del Rey Film Festival
2024
Best Short Screenplay
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LA Student Film Fest
2024
Finalist
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Tampa Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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California International Short Film Festival (CA Film)
2024
Semi Finalist – Best Young Filmmaker
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Atlanta High School Film Festival
2024
Best Actor (Hunter Nickless)
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Sparrowland Short Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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Fortean Film Festival
2024
Gold: Best Student Film
Gold: Best Performance (Hunter Nickless)
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MegaFlix Film Awards
2024
Silver: Best Performance (Hunter Nickless)
Silver: Best Student Film
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Ridgewood Guild’s International Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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Hang on to Your Shorts Film Festival
2024
Best Rising Star (Hunter Nickless)
Nominated: Best Supporting Actor in a Horror (Hunter Nickless)
Nominated: Best Actress in a Horror (Brie Rameriz)
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Broadway International Film Festival Los Angeles
2024
Official Selection
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Golden Bridge İstanbul Short Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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Freewheeling Film Awards
2024
Best Actress: Horror Short (Brie Rameriz)
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Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival
2024
Honorable Mention: Best Actor (Hunter Nickless)
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Indie Short Fest
2024
Semi-Finalist: Student Film
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IndieX Film Fest
2024
Semi-Finalist: Student Film
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New York Istanbul Short Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
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Crown Point International Film Festival
2024
Official Selection
—————————–
(‘Haunted for Life” has received 26 Accolades)
WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival
2022
Bronze Award – Best Young Filmmaker
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Accolade Global Film Competition
2022
Best Young Filmmaker
Best Young Actor (Hunter Nickless)
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Best Shorts Competition
2022
Best Young Filmmaker
Best Young Actor (Hunter Nickless)
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American Youth Film Festival
2022
Best Young Filmmaker
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Brazil International Independent Film Festival
2022
Honorable Mention – Best Young Filmmaker
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IndieFest Film Awards
2022
Best Young Filmmaker
Best Young Actor (Hunter Nickless)
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Los Angeles Film Awards
2022
Best Young Filmmaker
Best Young Actor (Hunter Nickless)
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IndieX Film Festival
2022
Best Young Filmmaker
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Flatness Film Awards
2022
Official Selection
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Bestlov Film Festival
2022
Official Selection
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Independent Horror Movie Awards
2022
Official Selection
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KIDS FIRST! Film Festival
2022
Official Selection
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Screen Test Student Fest
2022
Best Student Film
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Chicago Indie Film Awards
2021
Official Selection
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Indie Memphis Youth Film Fest
2022
Official Selection
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Fortean Film Festival
2022
Silver Award – Best Horror Film
Best First Time Filmmaker
Best Performance (Hunter Nickless)
Best Ghost Film
Best Legend Film
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Paris International Short Festival
2022
Semi-Finalist
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Festigious Los Angeles
2022
Semi-Finalist
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Indie Short Fest
2021
Semi-Finalist
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Independent Short Awards
2021
Finalist
—————————–
Screaming Ostrich International Film Festival
2021
Best Young Filmmaker
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World Indie Film Awards
2021
Best Student Short
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Golden Bridge İstanbul Short Film Festival
2022
Best Low Budget Film
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Anatolia International Film Festival
2022
Nominated for Micro Film
2025 Red Movie Annual Awards, Reims France
Hunter Nickless
Indie Vegas Film Festival 2024
Winner! Best Student Film
Hunter Nickless
23rd Annual Garden State Film Festival 2025
Interview for GONE with host Sophia Lucia Parola
Hunter Nickless
23rd Annual Garden State Film Festival 2025
Winner! Best High School Drama Short Film (GONE)
Hunter Nickless
Burbank International Film Festival 2024
Winner! Best U.S. Student Filmmaker Award
Hunter Nickless
Burbank International Film Festival Awards Gala 2024
First Entertainment Credit Union Interview
Stlmag.com | October 22, 2024
Meet Hunter Nickless: The teen selected for the
St. Louis International Film Festival
By Emily Adams
Burbank International Film Festival: Award Winners (2024) Part 4
Burbank International Film Festival
The Virginian-Pilot | May 26, 2024
This Chesapeake freshman’s work has been
selected for 41 film festivals and counting
By Colin Warren-Hicks
My Hero | October 11, 2024
GONE by Hunter Nickless is a Finalist
at the MY HERO Film Festival
By Naomi Gledhill
"Performance" Demo Reel
(Scenes of Hunter Nickless from the short film – “The New School”, by Ryan Darst)
Best Actor Accolades
(Hunter has received 19 Best Actor Awards and 3 Nominations)
MegaFlix Film Awards
“GONE”
2024
Gold: Best Performance
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MegaFlix Film Awards
“Haunted for Life: Encounter”
2024
Silver: Best Performance
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Accolade Global Film Competition
“Gone”
2024
Award of Merit: Best Young Actor
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Filmmakers Connect
“Gone”
2024
Best Young Actor
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Independent Short Awards
“Gone”
2024
Silver Award: Best Young Actor
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Los Angeles Independent Short Awards
“Gone”
2024
Silver Award: Best Young Actor
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Indie Short Fest
“Gone”
2024
Honorable Mention: Young Actor
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Los Angeles Film Awards (LAFA)
“Gone”
2024
Best Young Actor
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Virginia Emerging Filmmakers Festival
“Gone”
2024
Honorable Mention: Best Actor
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IndieX Film Fest
“Gone”
2024
Honorable Mention: Young Actor
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Actors Awards
“Gone”
2024
Best Young Actor
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New York Film Awards
“Gone”
2024
Best Young Actor
—————————–
Fortean Film Festival
“Haunted for Life: Encounter”
2024
Gold: Best Performance
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Atlanta High School Film Festival
“Haunted for Life: Encounter”
2024
Best Actor
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Hang on to Your Shorts Film Festival
“Haunted for Life: Encounter”
2024
Nominated: Best Supporting Actor in a Horror Film
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Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival
“Haunted for Life: Encounter”
2024
Honorable Mention: Best Actor
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Seven Cities Short Film Showcase
“Hollywood”
2020
Nominated: Best Actor
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IndieFEST Film Awards
“Haunted for Life”
2022
Award of Recognition: Best Young Actor
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Los Angeles Film Awards
“Haunted for Life”
2022
Best Young Actor
—————————–
Independent Horror Movie Awards
“Haunted for Life”
2021
Nomination: Best Actor
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48 Hour Film Horror Festival – Hampton Roads
“La Novia”
2020
Best Supporting Actor
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48 Hour Film Festival – Hampton Roads
“New Addition”
2020
Best Supporting Actor
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