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Elena Jean

Elena Jean is an award-winning independent and freelance filmmaker specializing in documentary, wildlife, outdoor adventure and dramedy film and media. Through explorative, playful and cinematic storytelling, she aims to inspire curiousity, possibility and a sense of adventure. 

Elena's home-base is Tofino, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island, within the traditional territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, surrounded by coastal rainforest and mountains. She's an avid traveller, runner, surfer and diver, with a lively humour, love for learning and making music and art. 

Follow her updates at @elena.jean and via her blog.

about
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Elena's childhood in a small Canadian town was shaped by her Dad's incredible animal stories from his job at the zoo, sparking a bright curiousity for the world within her.

 

She studied engineering at Queen’s University from 2012-2017. She's a 2015 Cansbridge Fellow, and founder of multiple impact-focused organizations and businesses, including "One Species" (2016-19; dedicated to fighting extinction). This work introduced her to both documentary filmmaking and wildlife conservation efforts globally, and ultimately led her to the Pacific Northwest to learn more about endangered orcas.

 

In 2018, Elena worked for SeaLegacy. In 2019, she worked as a cinematographer, storyteller and editor for Milkywire, capturing the work of wildlife conservationists in Africa. Since then, Elena's continued to work on primarily natural history and documentary shoots.

 

Her directorial debut, COEXTINCTION premiered at Jackson Wild 2021, where it won the "Our Human Planet" category. The film has since screened at globally, and received numerous awards including the "Rob Stewart Eco Warrior Award" and "People's Choice." COEXTINCTION is now in distribution with Blue Ant International.

Elena has a love for field productions and has worked in numerous environments as a cinematographer with RED, Sony and Blackmagic cameras. She's also worked as a director, presenter, writer, producer and editor. 
She's grateful to have had the opportunity to share her passions a filmmaker, adventurer and conservationist on the news, podcasts and at various events.

 

Currently, while freelancing, she's excited to be working on her next independent and collaborative projects. 

Awards &
Distinctions 
  • 2022 Cressi Ambassador
  • 2022 Environment Award, International Ocean Film Festival
  • 2022 Best Documentary Cinematography Nominee, Canadian Screen Awards
  • 2022 Audience Choice, Seoul International Eco Film Festival
  • 2022 Canadian Screen Music Awards Nominated Best Original Score for a Documentary Feature
  • 2022 Best Documentary Film & Best Original Score, Los Angeles Cinematography Awards
  • 2021 Rob Stewart Eco-Warrior Award, Vancouver International Film Festival
  • 2021 Best Canadian Documentary Nominee, Vancouver International Film Festival
  • 2021 Winner of Our Human Planet Category, Nomination for Best Score, Jackson Wild
  • 2021 People's Choice Award, Planet In Focus
  • 2019 Telus Storyhive Documentary Edition Award
  • 2017 QIC Summer Initiative Accelerator Cohort
  • 2016 Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE) Award 
  • 2015 Cansbridge Fellow
  • 2013 Chief FREC, Queen's Engineering (iykyk)
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Get In Touch

General & Business Inquiries

elena.routledge@gmail.com
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