Elena Jean

Elena Jean is an award-winning independent and freelance filmmaker specializing in documentary, wildlife, outdoor adventure and dramedy. Through explorative, playful and cinematic film and media, she aims to inspire curiousity, possibility and a sense of adventure. She's especially passionate about stories about the wild and wellness.
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 sense of humour, a love for exploring, learning and making music and art.
Follow updates and (mis)adventures @elena.jean and blog.

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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, including One Species (2016-19; dedicated to fighting extinction through apparel, community and media). This work introduced her to wildlife conservation efforts around the world, and ultimately led her to the Pacific Northwest to learn more about endangered orcas.
In 2018, Elena created behind-the-scenes content for SeaLegacy and in 2019, worked as a cinematographer, host and editor for Milkywire, capturing stories of wildlife conservationists throughout Africa.
Her directorial debut, COEXTINCTION premiered at Jackson Wild 2021, where it won the "Our Human Planet" category. The film has since screened at festivals globally, and received numerous awards including the "Rob Stewart Eco Warrior Award" and "People's Choice." COEXTINCTION is now in distribution.
In 2022, Elena continued to work on natural history and documentary shoots. She has a love for field productions and rugged environments (land and water). She's worked as a cinematographer with RED, Sony and Blackmagic cameras, and as a director, host, writer, producer and experienced editor.
Elena has shared her passions and work as a filmmaker, adventurer, and conservationist on the news and podcasts, and enjoys doing public speaking. Currently, she's working on her next projects with focuses on wildlife, conservation, outdoor adventure, hosted documentary and dramedy scripted content.
Awards &
Distinctions
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2022 Cressi Ambassador
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2022 Environment Award, International Ocean Film Festival
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2022 Best Documentary Cinematography Nominee, Canadian Screen Awards
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2022 Audience Choice, Seoul International Eco Film Festival
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2022 Canadian Screen Music Awards Nominated Best Original Score for a Documentary Feature
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2022 Best Documentary Film & Best Original Score, Los Angeles Cinematography Awards
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2021 Rob Stewart Eco-Warrior Award, Vancouver International Film Festival
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2021 Best Canadian Documentary Nominee, Vancouver International Film Festival
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2021 Winner of Our Human Planet Category, Nomination for Best Score, Jackson Wild
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2021 People's Choice Award, Planet In Focus
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2019 Telus Storyhive Documentary Edition Award
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2017 QIC Summer Initiative Accelerator Cohort
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2016 Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE) Award
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2015 Cansbridge Fellow
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2013 Chief FREC, Queen's Engineering (iykyk)








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