Dan Zeff is a director and screenwriter based in the UK. He works across drama and comedy, and especially loves projects that combine the two. Whether dark noir thriller or playful romantic comedy, the key elements for him are always character and emotion – storylines that powerfully move their audience to tears or laughter – and often both. His work has won three BAFTA awards and gained a further seven BAFTA and EMMY nominations.

He is currently writing the screenplay adaptation of Ian McEwan’s novel NUTSHELL for Snapper Films/Streetcar Productions. His previous original screenplay PROJECT MUSTARD won the Tribeca Sloan Development award and was showcased at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Dan’s TV movies as director include CONSUMING PASSION starring Olivia Colman and Jodie Whittaker, THE QUEEN AND I starring Samantha Bond and Frances Barber, HATTIE – still BBC4’s highest ever rating drama, and the BAFTA winning thriller WHEN WILL THERE BE GOOD NEWS starring Jason Isaacs and adapted from the bestselling novel by Kate Atkinson.

Other notable TV work includes the hugely popular mini-series LOST IN AUSTEN starring Gemma Arterton as Elizabeth Bennett, Amazon Prime’s period drama THE COLLECTION starring Mamie Gummer, and the Emmy-nominated ADOLF HITLER : THE ARTIST starring Rupert Grint, as well as episodes of celebrated British series INSIDE No9 and DR WHO.

His early short films as writer-director won awards worldwide, most notably SWEETNIGHTGOODHEART starring David Tennant, DUAL BALLS and THAT SUNDAY which were both BAFTA nominated, the latter (starring Alan Cumming and Minnie Driver), also won awards at the Chicago and San Diego Film Festivals, and was screened by the BFI across their cinemas as their number one Valentine’s Day short.

Dan mentors in film schools regularly, and has spent six years on the board of Directors UK, the professional association for the UK’s screen directors. He is also a trustee of the Directors Charitable Foundation, a charity that seeks to support and inspire people from all backgrounds to consider a career in the industry.