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.
Early life Selim was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota to an Egyptian father and a German mother. His parents were Dr. Mohamed Ali Selim and wife Evelyn Niemeier. He has two siblings. His father died in 2015 at the age of 91, and was a professor of economics at the University of St. Thomas.
Career 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 a number of award-winning television commercials, including a public service announcement for the YMCA which received a Gold Lion, advertising's most coveted award, from 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 script for the film Sweet Land, based on a short story by Will Weaver, was the only screenplay selected for the inaugural year of the Cyngus Emerging Filmmakers Institute. The film, which took him fifteen years to finance, was shot in 2005 around Chippewa County, Minnesota. It starred Alan Cumming, Ned Beatty, Elizabeth Reaser, Alex Kingston and John Heard. The film was the recipient of the 2005 Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature Film at the 13th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival, the 2006 Florida Film Festival: Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, and the 2007 Independent Spirit Awards: Best First Feature.
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 Weeklys list of the top 1% most sought-after directors in the United States.
In May 2021, Selim was hired to direct episodes of the series Secret Invasion for Disney+. He ultimately directed all 6 episodes.
Personal life Selim is married to Robin Engstrom, of Swedish descent. He lives in Portland, Oregon.
FilmographyShort film Year TitleDirectorWriterProducer Notes 1996 Emperor of the Air Credited as Ali Mohamed Selim 2020 Le Tour de Pants with Ali Selim Documentary short, also narratorFeature film Year TitleDirectorWriterProducer 2005 Sweet Land Television' Year TitleDirectorWriter Notes 2010 In Treatment 6 episodes 2011 Criminal Minds Episode "Today I Do" 2014 Gracepoint Episode "Episode Seven" 2017 Hand of God Episode "I See That Now" 2018 The Looming Tower Directed 2 episodes, wrote 2 episodes, also story editor 2020 Manhunt 2 episodes 2020 Condor 2 episodes 2021 Hit & Run Episode "Hide & Seek"2022 61st Street 2 episodes The Calling Episode "The Horror" 2023 Secret Invasion Miniseries, also executive producer
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResult2005Hamptons International Film Festival Audience AwardsBest Narrative FeatureSweet Land 2006Florida Film Festival Audience AwardsBest Narrative Feature Vail Film Festival Audience Choice AwardsBest Feature Wisconsin Film Festival Audience AwardsBest Dramatic Film 2007Independent Spirit AwardsBest First Feature 2019USC Scripter AwardsTelevisionThe Looming Tower (for "9/11")2019Writers Guild of America AwardsLong Form – AdaptedThe Looming Tower
References
External links