Ali Selim
Biography
Ali Selim (born 1960/1961) is an American film and television director. Over the past fifteen years, he has directed over 850 television commercials, five half-hour documentaries, and several music videos.
His first project, a documentary celebrating the centennial of Saint Thomas Academy, won awards at several international film festivals. Selim formed his own production company (Departure Films) in 1989.
He directed several award-winning television commercials, including a public service announcement for the YMCA which received a Gold Lion, advertising's most coveted award, from the Cannes Advertising Film Festival in 1991. Later that year, Selim was hired by Giraldi/Suarez Productions.
In 1993 Selim wrote, produced, and directed Yonnondio, a 15-minute music video in collaboration with Academy Award-winning composer Peter Buffett which was awarded the Silver Hugo from the Chicago International Film Festival and a CINE Golden. Selim was an honoree at the AICP Show, "The Art and Technique of the American Television Commercial," where his work was placed in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
His narrative film Emperor of the Air (1996), based on Ethan Canin's story of the same name, was awarded the top prize at Worldfest and the D. L. Mayberry Award. Selim was placed on Advertising Weekly's list of the top 1% most sought-after directors in the United States.
In May 2021, Selim was hired to direct episodes of the upcoming series Secret Invasion for Disney+. He ultimately directed all 6 episodes.
