Westhampton | Interview with Director Christian Nilsson

Writer and director Christian Nilsson joins the 1st on Film Podcast to discuss his deeply personal new drama, Westhampton.In this conversation, Christian shares the inspiration behind the film, why themes of guilt, forgiveness, and redemption were so important to explore, and how his own experiences helped shape the story. We also dive into working with an outstanding cast led by Finn Wittrock, the journey from its acclaimed Tribeca premiere to audiences, and the challenges of bringing an intimate independent film to life.Christian also reflects on his evolution from Emmy Award-winning journalist and filmmaker to feature director, lessons learned throughout his career, and what he hopes viewers take away after the credits roll.If you’re passionate about independent filmmaking, character-driven storytelling, and the creative process behind emotionally resonant films, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.Christian Nilsson is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, writer, director, and producer. He first gained widespread attention with Unsubscribe, the zero-budget horror short that famously became the No. 1 film at the U.S. box office during the pandemic in 2020, before making his feature directorial debut with the psychological thriller Dashcam.His latest feature, Westhampton, premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Festival and stars Finn Wittrock, RJ Mitte, Jake Weary, and Amy Forsyth. The film explores themes of regret, accountability, and redemption, earning praise for its emotional storytelling and powerful performances.Before transitioning into narrative filmmaking, Christian built an award-winning career as a video journalist and commercial director, creating work for outlets including The Atlantic, BuzzFeed, Esquire, HuffPost, and MTV. He is also a member of the Producers Guild of America, and his screenplay Paparazzo was selected for the 2024 Black List, highlighting one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed unproduced screenplays.