Ellie first picked up a video camera when she was 11 years old to film her older sister’s act of civil disobedience at a skating rink, as the Lesbian Avengers held hands during couples time. Ellie kept rolling as the police stormed in and then handed the tape to the TV crew outside, who screened it that night on the local news.

Ever since, Ellie has been committed to honoring stories of everyday revolutionaries, through observational portraiture and authentic playfulness, working in deep collaboration with participants and fellow filmmakers. Her work celebrates the power people have to transform struggle into meaning, beauty, and possibilities for healing, often through acts of creativity and community. Ellie’s work has been featured on PBS, Netflix and ARTE as well as in Oscar-nominated documentary films.