Carlen May-Mann (they/she) is a Brooklyn-based writer and director, originally from Laguna Beach, California, who has received support from Sundance, Tribeca, and more. Their work includes the horror short THE RAT, which premiered at Sundance and was called “masterful” by Indiewire. Carlen also made ROMANCE PACKAGE FOR TWO, which was an Official Selection of the Palm Springs ShortFest, NewFest, and the Florida Film Festival. Recently, Carlen’s film GRIPPY SOCKS was selected for Through Her Lens: The Tribeca CHANEL Women's Filmmaker Program.

Currently, Carlen is developing the feature film FROM YOUR EYES TO MINE with Bruto Films (ISABEL, Berlinale 2026; LASER-GATO, Cannes La Cinef First Prize Winner 2026). They also co-wrote the feature STRAWBERRY SUMMER, which received support from the Sundance Feature Films Program (Screenwriters Intensive, Women at Sundance Financing and Strategy Intensive) and Cinereach.

Carlen has served on juries for Short of the Week, the Sheboygan Film Festival, and more. They also appeared as a subject matter expert on queer cinema in Sav Rodgers’ award-winning documentary CHASING CHASING AMY.

Carlen is a member of the Brooklyn Filmmakers Collective. They graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Wesleyan University with a degree in Film Studies and Psychology.