Portfolio / Documentary Work

Ali May

Documentary Producer / Director
Award-winning documentary filmmaker working across conservation, science and international development, with extensive experience delivering broadcast and institution-facing films in remote and logistically complex environments.

About

I am an award-winning documentary Producer/Director with over 15 years’ experience delivering high-quality factual films across conservation, science and international development contexts. I have led and shot major international productions for broadcasters including the BBC, National Geographic and Apple TV+, with a strong focus on environmental storytelling, human/nature relationships and translating complex scientific work into clear, audience focused narratives. My work spans both longform documentary and multi-platform content, enabling organisations to communicate impact across broadcast, digital and advocacy channels.

I bring substantial field experience across remote regions, working in logistically complex and environmentally sensitive contexts. Recent and relevant credits include conservation and wildlife productions in Botswana and Gabon, science-led expedition filmmaking in Malaysia and Mongolia, and directing projects across East Asia and East and West Africa that required close collaboration with local contributors, authorities and production partners. Alongside broadcast work, I have delivered communications films and visual storytelling projects for Geneva-based humanitarian and policy organisations, combining strong editorial judgement with practical, minimal-footprint production methods designed for remote, low-impact fieldwork.

This blend of broadcast-level craft, conservation storytelling experience and operational reliability in remote settings positions me to deliver consistent, high-quality documentary outputs across the globe.

Selected Work

A selection of relevant broadcast and institutional work, with direct links. Subscription or login requirements are noted where relevant.

Deadly 60

BBC | Wildlife / Youth Factual

Wildlife documentary work for one of the BBC’s best-known natural history formats, designed to engage broad and younger audiences through accessible, energetic storytelling.

PeaceNexus

NGO / Policy Communications

Short-form film work on international humanitarian law and responsible business, combining editorial clarity with institution-facing communication needs.

Private YouTube link

Relevant Experience

My work spans conservation, science, current affairs, expedition and institutional communications, with field experience across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. I regularly work in remote, logistically complex and environmentally sensitive contexts, combining editorial judgement, practical production problem-solving and a low-footprint field approach suited to sensitive environments and small, agile productions.

Quick Links