EPOCH. DIRECTORS

Elle Brooks-Tao

Bio

Elle has the rare gift of elevating the small, ordinary occurrences of everyday life with the same assurance and dedication as she does documenting Olympic sport athletes. Her work is quintessentially human; it's powerful and makes you think! She uses her voice to break stereotypes, drawn to telling stories about real people, people who chart their own course through life. Giving voices to the voiceless and pushing them into the forefront of her storytelling. Curiosity seeps through Elle’s touch. Weaving between memories, internal monologues and life changing moments of self-realization, she creates strong visual metaphors through close-up POV’s paired with surreal imagination and affecting narrative performance.

She doesn’t make films to push ideas; rather, she brings a sense of understanding and empathy to her subject matter that seeks to let inside emotion burst outward. Known to place emphasis on overlooked or underestimated characters, Elle’s ad work has been recognized by Kinsale Sharks, 1.4, various Cannes Lions, and AICP awards. Her narrative work for non-profit A21 has been recognized for Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Film in over 17 international festivals.

As a formerly home-schooled kid prone to wandering, you can find Elle during her down days running a desert marathon, surfing, or visiting her hometown of Boston.