MOST 18-year-olds are still finding their way in the world, but not Royton's Nick Connor.

This incredible young talent - already being compared to iconic British director Ken Loach - is about to premiere his third short film - shot by a BAFTA winning cinematographer - and the glitzy red carpet event will be in his hometown on Sunday.

Nick is unwrapping his latest movie "Cotton Wool" - which he wrote and directed - at Oldham's very own big screen star, The Odeon, in the Old Town Hall where he also launched "Northern Lights" a year ago.

It will also be a poignant night for the company behind it, Cherwell Productions Ltd, which is run by Oldham producer, Mark Quinn, who named it after the street he grew up in.

Its famous cast will be attending the premiere, including eight-year-old Max Vento, currently appearing as Joe in BBC1's "The A Word", "I, Daniel Blake" and "Scott and Bailey" actress Kate Rutter, Katie Quinn, who starred in Nick's last film "Northern Lights" and Leanne Best who has appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Line of Duty, Ripper Street, Women In Black 2. Crissy Rock, who starred in Loach's "Ladybird Ladybird" and ITV's "Benidorm" also appears.

Aside from the immense excitement of unveiling his pride and joy to the public, "Cotton Wool" has special significance for Nick and his family as it is based on the real-life tragedy of his mum, Geraldine, losing her mum to a stroke when she was just 10 years old.

It also highlights the shocking plight of young carers in the UK.

The story follows hardworking, single mother, Rachel (Leanne Best) who is struggling to keep her family - stroppy teenaged daughter, Jennifer (Katie Quinn) and seven-year-old son, Sam (Max Vento) who constantly pesters for attention - in order.

Their world is turned upside when Rachel is left wheelchair bound following a devastating stroke and young Sam ends up looking after her.

It's already received critical acclaim, being described as "deeply emotive, humbling and heartbreaking" with Leanne's performance as a stroke victim billed as "showstopping" and Nick flagged up as one of the UK’s "hottest prospects" who could "rise up to take the place of the ageing Ken Loach".

"The film aims to be emotional and, in a way I suppose, hard hitting," said Nick, who recently completed his A'levels at Rishworth School and hails from a family of golfers - his sister Rachel is a professional golfer and his dad, Brian is the pro at Manchester Golf Club.

"It's based on what might have happened had my grandmother survived. Her inspiration was at the heart of why I wanted to make the film. It’s of course a personal story but it’s one that I felt was important to tell a part of. The film is dedicated to her and I couldn't be more pleased with my family's support through the making of the film.

"It’s an important story to get out. With 243,000 child carers in England and Wales under the age of 19 and 22,000 under the age of nine, it’s a side of society that needs to be shown - and hasn’t been.

"I’m so happy with the cast involved, Leanne Best, Katie Quinn and Max Vento at the very centre hold the film together so well.

"It’s an honour to have my premiere here two years in a row. Oldham’s always been such a big part of mine and the production company's life. I want to stick to those roots and share the film with the community."

The film was also shot by BAFTA-winning cinematographer, Alan McLaughlin, and the production crew included people who have worked on the films Paddington 2, Breathe, Gods Own Country and The Replacement.

Earlier this year Nick won the Into Film Ones to Watch Award presented by actor Charles Dance, at London's Odeon Leicester Square, during a star-studded event sponsored by Barbara Broccoli and Bond film makers, EON Productions.

He says his dream is write a film about Oldham featuring only Oldham actors and he'd loved to work with the town's Hollywood starlet Olivia Cooke.