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Ellie

"Desperate measures are taken to escape a violent world concealed within an isolated cottage."

  • Morgana McKenzie
    Director
    We All Go the Same, Kurayami no Wa, GIFTS
  • Morgana McKenzie
    Writer
    We All Go the Same, Kurayami no Wa, GIFTS
  • Sebastian Labissiere
    Key Cast
  • Jeff Lawson
    Key Cast
  • Grace Zanichkowsky
    Key Cast
  • Morgana McKenzie
    Cinematographer
    We All Go the Same, Kurayami no Wa, GIFTS
  • Morgana McKenzie
    Editor
    We All Go the Same, Kurayami no Wa, GIFTS
  • Morgana McKenzie
    Colorist
    We All Go the Same, Kurayami no Wa, GIFTS
  • Dave Johnson
    Composer and Sound Designer
    Kurayami no Wa, GIFTS
  • Morgana McKenzie
    Producer
    We All Go the Same, Kurayami no Wa, GIFTS
  • Charlene Laporte
    Producer
    We All Go the Same, Kurayami no Wa, GIFTS
  • Warren Etheredge
    Executive Producers
  • Juliano Angeliano
    Executive Producers
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Suspense, Thriller
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 15 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 31, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    6,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • TIFF Next Wave Jump Cuts
    Toronto, Ontario
    Canada
    May 9, 2016
    ** Gertrude Löwengren Award for Best Fiction Film
  • FilmQuest
    Sandy, Utah
    United States
    June 24, 2016
    ** Best Youth Film
  • Scout Film Festival
    Stowe, Vermont
    United States
    June 18, 2016
    ** Best Female Filmmaker
  • Longleaf Film Festival
    Raleigh, North Carolina
    United States
    May 13, 2016
    ** Best Student Narrative Film
  • Lovett School Film Festival
    Atlanta, Georgia
    United States
    May 7, 2016
    ** Best International Narrative Short
  • Durham
    Durham
    United Kingdom
    June 11, 2016
    ** Best Editing
  • NFFTY
    Seattle, Washington
    United States
    April 30, 2016
  • CineYouth
    Chicago, Illinois
    United States
    May 6, 2016
  • Sidewalk Film Festival
    Birmingham
    United States
    August 26, 2016
  • Newport Beach
    Newport Beach
    United States
    April 21, 2016
Director Biography - Morgana McKenzie

Morgana McKenzie is an award-winning filmmaker, creating her own short films and working as a cinematographer and colorist for other filmmakers. Morgana’s films have screened internationally at over 100 festivals and won over 30 awards.

Morgana’s latest short film “Ellie” has screened at 13 festivals and won 5 awards including the Gerturde Löwengren Award for Best Fiction film from TIFF Jump Cuts (Toronto International Film Festival). Morgana was awarded Best Director Under 25 at the 2015 Ottawa Independent Video Awards, and Best Emerging Female Filmmaker award at NFFTY 2014 (National Film Festival for Talented Youth).

In 2015 Morgana finished two short films. “We All Go the Same“, a narrative music video for the song of the same name by Radical Face, has screened at over forty festivals and won ten awards including Best Music Video, Best Cinematography, and Best Makeup. “Kurayami no Wa“, a dark thriller set in winter, has won awards including Best Thriller (Junior Division) at CineYouth in Chicago and and Best Youth Short at the Kingston Canadian Film Festival. 

Morgana’s 2014 short film “GIFTS” was accepted to over twenty film festivals, and won ten awards, including: Best Emerging Female Filmmaker at NFFTY (National Film Festival for Talented Youth); the top prize of the Future of Cinema Film Festival at the Interlochen School of Arts; the Best Narrative award at the Calgary International Film Festival youth division; and, Best Thriller at CineYouth in Chicago.

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Director Statement

“Ellie” included so many “firsts”. It was my first time using my new Canon C100 camera (after saving up for a year); it was my first opportunity to work with a casting director; and my first experience hiring professional (ACTRA union) actors.

Ellie was only possible because of the generosity of so many people. Instead of a summer vacation, my parents rented the cottage that serves as the location for Ellie. A successful Kickstarter campaign paid for equipment rentals and the actors’ wages. And my casting director provided her services for free.

With the exception of my mom and dad (who provided catering, transportation, encouragement and support), the Ellie crew were all teenagers — my classmates and friends.