Ziad Semaan is a Canadian screenwriter currently living and working in London, with extensive and practical work experience at New Line Cinema. After completing his MA in Feature Film Screenwriting at Royal Holloway with Distinction, Ziad went on to complete an M.phil at the same university, researching character development in non-linear narratives. In 2003, he signed with the William Morris Agency based on his first spec screenplay RUFUS STREET. Within years, Ziad established himself as a respected screenwriter, working with other writers and directors on developing feature film projects.

In 2005, he was commissioned to work on the adaptation of the award-winning novel by Umberto Eco, FOUCAULT'S PENDULUM, being developed by New Line Cinema. Previously drafted by both Andrew Upton (Gone, Bangers) and Charles McKeown (Brazil, Ripley's Game), the dense, mystical thriller is considered one of the greatest conspiracy stories of all time and is widely considered to be a predecessor to the Da Vinci Code film and other Templar Knight mythologies. The project is currently in development. Also in 2005, one of Ziad's spec screenplays caught the eye of producer David Silverman of Wit's End Productions in LA and was optioned. The script LaPLACE'S DEMON is a thriller set in the cities and bayous of Louisiana and was re-written with David Silverman (The Wild Thornberry's Movie, Dilbert TV Series) and is currently seeking financing. In 2006, Ziad teamed up with director Sue Clayton (The Disappearance of Finbar) to adapt her treatment JUMOLHARI into a feature film screenplay. Set in the mountains in Bhutan and based on her own travel writing, Clayton's movie is a romantic drama explored through a surreal Buddhist Narrative. Later that year, inspired by a documentary shown on Channel 4 Dispatches, Ziad contacted BAFTA winning documentary filmmaker David Modell regarding his film 'KEEP THEM OUT'. The documentary followed the trials of a small sea-side town in England when a government proposed asylum centre threatened their peaceful way of life. The documentary and subsequent adapted screenplay examined the issues of immigration and asylum seekers in today's Britain. More recently, Ziad wrote and directed his first short film - THE ADVENTURES OF THADDEUS WHARTON. It is currently in post-production. Another short, - THE BIG SMOKE, written with Nick North, is currently being animated and is expected to be completed in 2008.