Jay Manari is an independent director, writer, and producer, member of Directors UK.

Jay began his career in independent filmmaking and commercial projects in Europe, specifically in Italy, before moving on to work in the United States, particularly in California's Los Angeles and New York in 2014. During this time, he worked for notable LA producers like Ed Polgardy. In recent years, he has focused his work in the UK, where he has worked alongside series producer Jon Jennings, supporting directors such as Ben Taylor (renowned for his work on 'Sex Education') and Amanda Brotchie (known for 'Gentleman Jack').

Since 2018, Jay has served as the festival director and founder of the MiraBan UK Film Awards, an independent film festival based in London that champions diversity in low-budget art-house films. The festival is a proud member of both the BFI and Film Hub London and recipient of the BFI Film Exhibition Fund in 2024.

Over the past five years, Jay has diversified his experience by working as both a producer's and director's assistant in high-end TV dramas based in London. Notable projects include Disney Plus's 'Renegade Nell'. In June 2024, Jay was nominated 'Filmmaker of the Month' by My First Job in Film, the largest community of emerging filmmakers in the UK.

Additionally, Jay has produced his own independent film productions, which are available on various online distribution platforms.