Ali Ali

Ali was just named in Adweek’s esteemed “Creative-100” list, as one of Ten Most Exciting Directors in 2020.

Ali Ali — Bio

Ali

About Ali

  • American University in Cairo

    American University - Cairo / EG

    It may not be obvious, but Ali studied computer engineering at the American University in Cairo, with a minor in painting. Preferring storyboards to motherboards, he quickly abandoned a mediocre programming career to study Design and Art Direction at the
    Miami Ad School.

  • miami ad school in pink

    Miami ad school - Miami / USA

    Ali spent a little over a year in Miami before moving to Romania as a Junior Art Director for D’Arcy Bucharest. He met some incredible people at the now-closed Agency, and they’re still friends to this day.

  • ali ali in director's chair on filmset

    Shooting for Coca-Cola - Capetown / ZA
    (2013)

    From Romania Ali moved to Germany with Leagas Delaney, Hamburg. Where he worked under a great Art Director, Hermann Waterkamp. From there he went on to build a truly global career, first as Art Director then as Creative Director for the likes of Leo Burnett, JWT, McCann, before finally topping it off as ECD of DDB-Berlin in 2012.

“Named by the
2014 Gunn Report®
As one of the top ten
directors in the world.”

Global movie
Director rank

  • ali ali and maged nasser elephant studio

    Ali and Maged in Elephant - Cairo / EG
    (2011)

    In 2010, he co-founded Elephant in Cairo with his lifetime creative partner and friend, Maged Nassar. Their humble two man shop quickly became the regions most awarded agency, picking up five Dubai Lynx Grand Prix in under two years. In 2011 Elephant was named by Cannes Lions Independent Showcase as one of three most exciting new agencies in the world.

Viral Campaign

8 9 7 8 9 0 million

94,082,898 YouTube Views

“One of the most
watched campaigns
of all time”

Never say no to Panda

  • ali ali on stage panda youtube on cannes film festival

    Independent Agency Showcase - Cannes / FR
    (2011)

    His directorial debut, “Never Say No to Panda” won him a Gold Lion in Cannes, and with over 90-million youtube views, was named by the Guardian as “one of the most watched viral campaigns of all time.” Nine years later, Ali has directed more than sixty commercials for the likes of Diesel, Google, Coca-Cola, Budweiser
    and Amazon.

  • Good people - Cairo / EG
    (2016)

    In 2016 Ali Co-founded Good People Films along with Maged Nassar and Pierre Mouarkech – his longtime dop. Good People swiftly became the regions most awarded production house with offices in Cairo, Beirut, Dubai and Athens.

Roots

Raised
all over
the World

N 30.048819°
E 31.243666°

ali ali with his family

Salma, Sina and Ali - Athens / GR
(2018)

Born in Cairo, and raised all over the world, his work is attentive to local realities, combined with a global sense for storytelling and a sick sense of humor.

Awards & Recognitions

“Ali was awarded
The coveted D&AD
Yellow pencil for
direction in 2015.”

Total
29 Awards

  • Clio

    Clio

  • Cannes Lion

    Cannes Lion

  • D&AD

    D&AD

  • Dubai Lynx

    Dubai Lynx

  • The One Show

    The One Show

  • Art Directors Club

    Art Directors Club

/20

  • The One Show
  • Gold
  • Diesel / Be a Follower

/19

  • Cannes Lion
  • Gold Lion (Social Film)
  • Diesel / Be a Follower

/17

  • Dubai Lynx Film
  • Craft Silver
  • Emirates / Travel for Real
  • Dubai Lynx Film
  • Silver
  • Emirates / Travel for Real

/16

  • Dubai Lynx Film
  • Craft Grand Prix
  • Du Interviews
  • Dubai Lynx Film
  • Grand Prix
  • Du Interviews

/15

  • D&AD
  • Yellow Pencil (Direction)
  • Du Telecom
  • D&AD
  • Silver (Production & Sound)
  • Du Telecom
  • D&AD
  • Silver (Cinematography)
  • Du Telecom
  • ADC
  • NY Black Cube (Best of Show)
  • Du Telecom
  • Clio Awards
  • Gold
  • Du Telecom / Two-for-one tickets
  • Dubai Lynx Film
  • Gold
  • Tecno Smart Phones
  • Dubai Lynx Film
  • Craft Gold
  • Du Telecom

/14

  • Cannes Lion
  • Gold
  • Du Telecom
  • Dubai Lynx Film
  • Gold
  • Du Telecom
  • Dubai Lynx Film
  • Craft Gold
  • Du Telecom
  • Clio Awards
  • Gold
  • Du Telecom
  • D&AD
  • Silver
  • Du Telecom

/12

  • Dubai Lynx Film
  • Grand Prix
  • Kalbaz Gun
  • Dubai Lynx Film
  • Craft Gold Prix
  • MTC Touch Fast
  • D&AD
  • Shortlist
  • Kalbaz Gun
  • Dubai Lynx Film
  • Silver
  • Travel for Google Chrome

/11

  • Dubai Lynx Film
  • Craft Grand Prix
  • Never Say No To Panda
  • Dubai Lynx Film
  • Grand Prix
  • Bawadi Prisoners
  • Clio Awards
  • Silver
  • Never Say No To Panda

/10

  • Cannes Lion
  • Gold (Film)
  • Never Say No To Panda
  • Dubai Lynx Film
  • Gold
  • Coca Cola / Under20 World Cup
  • The One Show
  • Gold
  • Panda Cheese

/09

  • Dubai Lynx Film
  • Grand Prix
  • Coca Cola / European Anthems

Contact

I'm notoriously
slow at getting
back to emails

In a hurry? please contact my awesome producers

United Kingdom

France

United States

Germany and Austria

Middle East