Kelly Nicholson is an AWGIE-nominated, award-winning writer, director and producer for film and theatre, drawn to the strange, the unsettling and the darkly funny.

Interested in themes of isolation, disconnection and identity, Kelly creates heightened worlds that remain emotionally grounded, finding humour and humanity in even the darkest places.

Her horror sci-fi short film Connected (2023) was nominated for an AWGIE, shortlisted for the Australian Writers’ Guild John Hinde Award, selected for St Kilda Film Festival, a finalist in the Sony Catchlight Film Festival, and won Best Short Film Director at the Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival.

Most recently, her dark comedy thriller It Gets Dark at Night (2024) premiered at the Inner West Film Festival.

In 2024, her stage play, Death of a People Pleaser, premiered at the Sydney Fringe Festival to sold-out audiences and rave reviews. It’s currently in development as a series. The pilot episode was a Semi-Finalist in both the Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition and the Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest.

In 2023, she began producing work under the name Atomic Darlings, a film and theatre company focused on creating opportunities for female creatives and telling stories featuring strong female characters.

Kelly has worked with EndemolShine Australia and Curio Pictures to bring their shows to life from the script department, including NCIS: Sydney and Playing Gracie Darling.

NCIS: Sydney Season 4 will be Kelly’s first television writing credit, premiering in 2027.