Writer
Ali May is a creator and writer of series with a keen interest in stories of societal and political importance, thrillers that entertain, and drama that pushes boundaries. He was born in Iran after the Islamic Revolution, grew up in the midst of the century’s longest war and he became an adult in a brutal dictatorship. To find his voice, he moved to the UK to study a masters’ in creative writing. He became a journalist, reporting on the Middle East’s politics and economy for Bloomberg, then worked for euronews as their UK Correspondent, and for the BBC on investigative projects. Since his transition into the series world, he has drawn on his professional experiences and tumultuous personal journey to develop original projects as well as create and write for some of the hottest producers in Europe and beyond. His original series Revolution was acquired by Spiro Films (Israel) and is being co-developed with Haut et Court (France). He was a development consultant for AR Content (Russia) on Red Rainbow, a series that went on to win the best project in Series Mania Forum 2021. His latest project has been creating and writing the six-part limited series Hunting Annika for Zentropa (Denmark).
A young Iranian woman’s protest against a repressive regime escalates into a struggle for survival. What begins as a pursuit for revenge after her girlfriend’s hanging, sparks a deadly movement that targets the dictatorship’s core.
Finalist: Emerging Screenwriters Drama Screenplay Competition 2024
Developing a true crime drama series with Canadian production company, Connections TV.
Developing a spy thriller series with German production company, Good Friends.
Creator, Writer & Executive Producer
Revolution tells the story of a veteran war photographer who returns to Tehran after decades of exile to save his granddaughter, who is wanted for defying the regime. In development with France Télévisions.
John Yorke Story — Running the Show with Jeff Melvoin, 2024
Creator & Head Writer
A six-part limited series for Zentropa (Denmark), produced by Karoline Leth. Set in Tanzania, and enriched by true events, the series highlights the tensions and contradictions of the hunting eco-system: race, gender, sustainability and the ethics of hunting and poaching for survival and conservation.
Creator & Co-Writer
For Vertigo Films (Finland), with Matti Laine, created the pitch and wrote the pilot for the project. It won development funding from the Finnish Film Foundation and was selected as a finalist at C21 International Drama Series Pitch 2022.
Development Consultant
Provided early development strategy consultancy to AR Content (Russia) and designed the pitch. Red Rainbow went on to win the best project in Series Mania Forum 2021.
John Yorke Story — Running the Show with Jeff Melvoin, 2024
MediaXchange — Storytelling for Scripted Television with John Yorke, 2022
Curtis Brown Creative — Writing an Original TV Drama with Colin Teevan, 2021
Brunel University, London — Creative & Professional Writing MA, 2006-2007
Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran — English Language & Literature BA, 1999-2003
Producer for BBC One, Newsnight, Radio 4 PM and World at One (2018-2020)
Judge, The British Documentary Awards, The Grierson Trust (2019)
Consultant for Durex, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lego (2015-2017)
UK Correspondent & News Producer, euronews (2010-2014)
Middle East Reporter, Bloomberg News (2008-2010)
Blogger, The Independent (2007-2008)
| Current | ||
|---|---|---|
| Production | Company | Notes |
| Disobedience | Original Spec Script | A young Iranian woman’s protest against a repressive regime escalates into a struggle for survival. What begins as a pursuit for revenge after her girlfriend’s hanging, sparks a deadly movement that targets the dictatorship’s core. Finalist: Emerging Screenwriters Drama Screenplay Competition 2024 |
| TBA | Connections TV | Developing a true crime drama series with Canadian production company, Connections TV. |
| TBA | Good Friends Filmproduktions GmbH | Developing a spy thriller series with German production company, Good Friends. |
| Revolution | Spiro Films / Haut et Court / France Télévisions | Creator, Writer & Executive Producer |
| Running the Show | Jeff Melvoin Training Programme | John Yorke Story — Running the Show with Jeff Melvoin, 2024 |
| Television | ||
|---|---|---|
| Production | Company | Notes |
| Hunting Annika | Zentropa | Creator & Head Writer |
| Sea of Lies (2021-2022) | Vertigo Films | Creator & Co-Writer |
| Red Rainbow (2020) | AR Content | Development Consultant |
| Specialist Training | ||
|---|---|---|
John Yorke Story — Running the Show with Jeff Melvoin, 2024 MediaXchange — Storytelling for Scripted Television with John Yorke, 2022 Curtis Brown Creative — Writing an Original TV Drama with Colin Teevan, 2021 |
| Education | ||
|---|---|---|
Brunel University, London — Creative & Professional Writing MA, 2006-2007 Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran — English Language & Literature BA, 1999-2003 |
| Other | ||
|---|---|---|
Producer for BBC One, Newsnight, Radio 4 PM and World at One (2018-2020) Judge, The British Documentary Awards, The Grierson Trust (2019) Consultant for Durex, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lego (2015-2017) UK Correspondent & News Producer, euronews (2010-2014) Middle East Reporter, Bloomberg News (2008-2010) Blogger, The Independent (2007-2008) |