Aqibul Ali

Director and Director of Photography with 10+ years' experience delivering end-to-end video content across digital, social and cultural programmes. Strong background in hands-on production across camera, lighting, audio and postproduction, with a focus on high-quality, audience-led storytelling. Comfortable leading creative teams, managing workflows and delivering content at scale from concept through to final delivery

Director / Director of Photography - Ninebark Media Ltd

(2026-01)

Founded and run Ninebark Media, delivering freelance video production across branded, commercial and digital projects for agencies, organisations and direct clients, including continued partnerships with previous agencies and long-term collaborators.

• Lead end-to-end productions across social, branded and campaign content, managing projects from concept through to final delivery.
• Work independently across directing, camera operation, lighting, audio and post-production, bringing in additional crew where projects require it.
• Manage project planning, scheduling, budgeting and client delivery across multiple concurrent productions.
• Continue to support agency partners across production delivery, creative development and technical production on a freelance basis.
• Create content tailored to different audiences, formats and platforms across digital and social campaigns.
• Deliver shoots across the UK and internationally, coordinating logistics, scheduling and technical setup where required.
• Collaborate with agencies, marketing teams and external creatives to deliver high-quality content across fast-moving projects and short turnaround times.

Director of Photography / Filmmaker - ChilliMint

(2023-03 - 2025-12)

Delivering end-to-end video production across digital, social and campaign work for brands including Visa, Red Bull, Just Eat Takeaway and Lloyds Bank. Nationwide cultural programme (England, NI, Scotland, Wales) with a combined audience of 18 million.

• Built and implemented the production workflows, bringing video production fully in-house and reducing reliance on external suppliers.
• Led productions across digital and campaign projects, managing crew, contributors and technical delivery across camera, lighting, audio and post-production.
• Created content across branded, social and internal communications, adapting delivery depending on audience, platform and project requirements.
• Managed production planning, scheduling and on-location logistics for UK and international shoots across multiple fast-moving projects and last minute requests.
• Built production documents including treatments, call sheets, proposal decks to improve consistency and delivery across projects.
• Introduced review and feedback processes that improved communication across consultants and production team.
• Expanded the in-house creative offering through photography and motion graphics.
• Supported live and hybrid event productions, including technical setup across camera, lighting and audio.
• Managed and developed a team of eight creatives, overseeing workload, delivery and progression across multiple projects, campaigns and live events.
• Set up and led the creative briefing and approval process, maintaining consistency across internal and partner content nationwide.
• Oversaw end-to-end production across digital, social, campaign and event content, balancing multiple fast-moving projects simultaneously.
• Worked closely with marketing, communications, leadership teams and external partners to develop content across multiple platforms and formats.
• Managed production budgets, internal resource allocation and external suppliers across a large-scale national programme.
• Built and improved production workflows to streamline delivery, communication and approvals across teams and stakeholders.
• Delivered content across video, photography, motion graphics and campaign assets for web, paid media, social and live events.
• Oversaw equipment management, technical delivery and production standards while supporting team development through training and mentoring.
• Helped shape a more efficient in-house content operation, improving collaboration and reducing production bottlenecks across teams.

Head of Content & Brand - UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK

(2021-08 - 2023-01)

Nationwide cultural programme (England, NI, Scotland, Wales) with a combined audience of 18 million.

• Managed and developed a team of eight creatives, overseeing workload, delivery and progression across multiple projects, campaigns and live events.
• Set up and led the creative briefing and approval process, maintaining consistency across internal and partner content nationwide.
• Oversaw end-to-end production across digital, social, campaign and event content, balancing multiple fast-moving projects simultaneously.
• Worked closely with marketing, communications, leadership teams and external partners to develop content across multiple platforms and formats.
• Managed production budgets, internal resource allocation and external suppliers across a large-scale national programme.
• Built and improved production workflows to streamline delivery, communication and approvals across teams and stakeholders.
• Delivered content across video, photography, motion graphics and campaign assets for web, paid media, social and live events.
• Oversaw equipment management, technical delivery and production standards while supporting team development through training and mentoring.
• Helped shape a more efficient in-house content operation, improving collaboration and reducing production bottlenecks across teams.

Head of Creative Content - Towers Digital Content

(2020-12 - 2021-08)

Led the development and delivery of video, photography and virtual tour content across a multi-disciplinary agency working with clients across hospitality, manufacturing and property sectors.

• Built and managed creative teams across Birmingham, Manchester and London, overseeing onboarding, training and day-to-day delivery.
• Developed production workflows and operational processes across video, photography and virtual tour projects to improve consistency and delivery across teams.
• Managed multiple projects simultaneously, balancing production schedules, client requirements and delivery deadlines across different departments.
• Worked closely with clients from briefing through to delivery, translating commercial objectives into practical production plans.
• Oversaw technical delivery and quality control across internal teams and external editing resource, including remote post-production teams.
• Introduced new production tools and workflows to improve efficiency and expand the agency's creative capability.
• Provided technical support across filming, photography, editing and virtual production, ensuring consistent delivery standards across projects.
• Managed budgets, resource allocation and operational planning across the creative department.

Head of Video Production - WeAreEpic

(2017-04 - 2019-01)

Led video production across commercial and digital campaigns, creating content for brands across social, web and marketing platforms.

• Directed shoots and managed end-to-end production across multiple client projects, from planning through to final delivery.
• Worked closely with clients and internal creative teams to develop content aligned with campaign goals and audience requirements.
• Managed filming, lighting, audio and post-production across a range of fast-moving commercial projects.
• Oversaw production schedules and delivery timelines while balancing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Helped grow the agency's video offering through creative development and consistent production standards.

BSc - Media Production - De Montfort University (2013 - 2016)