Ben Ross is the Chief Content Officer of Image Nation Abu Dhabi and Chief Operating Officer of twofour54 Abu Dhabi. Under his guidance, Image Nation Abu Dhabi won an Academy Award in 2019 for Best Documentary for Free Solo, making it the only Middle Eastern based studio to have multiple local projects on Netflix.
Ben has been responsible for creating award-winning local content, including the first Emirati TV series on Netflix, Justice, and the critically acclaimed film Scales, which won the Verona Film Club Award at the Venice International Film Festival in 2019.
As COO of twofour54, Ben has driven the diversification of Abu Dhabi's creative industries by launching Abu Dhabi Gaming, an initiative dedicated to the growth of the gaming and esports industries in the region, and twofour54's Yas Creative Hub, a new home for media and entertainment in the Middle East.
Ben also led the streamlining of productions during the Covid-19 pandemic, allowing Abu Dhabi to be one of the few countries able to continue production during lockdown.
Ben has spearheaded several strategic partnerships, including a multi-project deal with MBC Studios and Majid Al Futtaim, which released its first feature film Bloodline in 2020, and a partnership with MBC Studios, Image Nation, and twofour54 that led to the creation of the world's first Arabic language soap opera Inheritance.
Ben's career spans over two decades, starting with Oscar-winning producer Scott Rudin, where he worked on films such as Clueless and Sabrina. He then spent four years at Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, specializing in management and working closely with clients like Brad Pitt and Courtney Cox.
After working with director Martin Brest, Ben spent several years writing, directing, and producing films on his own, including producing The Young Kieslowski, which won the 2014 Los Angeles Film Festival Audience Award.
