DAVE MAY ACS
Dave May is an award-winning Australian Cinematographer Society accredited cinematographer and director specialising in documentaries and factual television, and a range of work across music, comedy, lifestyle and commercials. He’s been the recipient of numerous ACS awards, including 2 x prestigious Golden Tripods, and has been awarded a Walkley award for video journalism in recognition of his work on SBS Viceland’s The Feed. In 2022 he was named a Canon Master in recognition of his work in the documentary space, the first cinematographer to receive this accolade.
His work has since taken him from Antarctica, to Africa and the Torres Strait, working for production companies like Blackfella Films, Northern Pictures, Fremantle and iTV on projects for broadcasters like Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Discovery, ABC and SBS. His passion for social impact filmmaking has led him to work as DOP and/or director on some of Australia’s most well-regarded factual programs including Stuff the British Stole, Filthy Rich and Homeless, You Can’t Ask That and Better Date Than Never, as well as the Rose D’Or nominated Employable Me and the Emmy and AACTA award winning format, Love on the Spectrum. His latest TV credits include the Hulu/Disney + true crime series Never Let Him Go and the ABC’s new flagship factual series, Tony Armstrong’s Extra-Ordinary Things. He created the documentary series Throwback for the ABC, which has had more than 10 million views, and directed and shot Adam Liaw’s Roadtrip for Good for SBS and Discovery.
Dave has also worked on a variety of music projects, shooting and directing music clips and live performance videos for artists including Underworld, Childish Gambino, Flight Facilities, Tame Impala, The Hilltop Hoods, Future Islands and Jon Hopkins.
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
PERSONAL
ACS Gold Tripod: Entertainment - Andrea Lam live at Sydney Opera House
ACS Gold Tripod: Experimental - Closed Sydney
ACS NSW Gold Award: Music Video - Walker. - Life & Death
ACS NSW Gold Award: Entertainment - Andrea Lam live at Sydney Opera House
ACS NSW Gold Award: Current Affairs - 7.30 - Sydney’s Vaccine Rollout
ACS NSW Silver Award: Entertainment - Mansionair Live
ACS NSW Gold Award: Entertainment - Love on the Spectrum
ACS NSW Gold Award: Experimental – Closed Sydney
ACS NSW Silver Award: Branded Content – Uncover Antarctica
ACS NSW Silver Award: News and Current Affairs – The Real Utopia
Walkley Award Young Australian Journalist: Visual Storytelling – The Feed
Canon Master
PROJECTS
AIDC: Best Documentary/Factual Series - Never Let Him Go
International Emmy: Non-Scripted Entertainment Winner - Love on the Spectrum Aus Series 2
AACTA Award: Factual Entertainment Winner - Love on the Spectrum Aus Series 2
Screen Producers Australia Award: Reality Series Winner - Love on the Spectrum Aus Series 2
Rose D’Or Nominee – Love on the Spectrum Aus Series 2
Rose D’Or Nominee – Employable Me Series 2
Screen Producers Australia Award: Documentary Program or Series Winner - Employable Me Series 2
AACTA Award:: Documentary Nominee - Employable Me Series 2
AACTA Award: Factual Entertainment Nominee - You Cant Ask That Series 7
AACTA Award: Factual Entertainment Nominee - You Cant Ask That Series 6
AACTA Award: Factual Entertainment Nominee - You Cant Ask That Series 5
New York Festival Film & TV Awards: Social Issues Gold - Filthy Rich and Homeless Series 3
BANF World Media Festival Best Docuseries - Filthy Rich and Homeless Series 3
Venice TV Awards: Reality TV Winner - Filthy Rich and Homeless Series 2
New York Festival Film & TV Awards: Social Issues Silver - Filthy Rich and Homeless Series 2
Amnesty International Media Awards Special Commendation – The Feed: The Real Utopia
Atom Award Nomination: Best Documentary (Arts) – Throwback