Ellie Brent

Ellie is a freelance, award-winning director; who has made a vast array of promos, commercials and idents across the globe. Her sharp eye for style and aesthetics, rhythm and movement, with subtle wit and sometimes dark humour; has made her work in both short form and narrative drama unique. 

Ellie always loved comedy and literature, and aspired to be a Director of Costume Drama from as young as 8.  But it wasn’t til she was 16 that she made her first film, for the National Back Pain Association.  She was then formally trained as a Director - both single camera and multi camera - by the BBC on their professional Bachelor of Broadcasting degree at the University of Leeds, where she achieved a First.  From there, she went on to write and direct spots for Discovery Channel, where she immediately started winning Promax awards, before spreading her wings to freelance.  Since then her main clients have been 4Creative, ITV, the BBC and Universal, along with other production companies for branded content for clients such as Nintendo and Triumph. This background in promos and commercials has made the fast turn around of creative work second nature, and nurtured her constant drive for new and striking ideas. 

Two stints of backpacking round the world, and several more awards later, she decided to turn her attention to making longer, narrative drama.  Her first non-commissioned short, a dark comedy called Legalise It, was shortlisted for Robbie Williams's Rudebox Shorts by Lord Puttnam and Jonathan Ross.  Her next – A Weekend in Venice – found critical acclaim on the festival circuit and was screened at Cinecity in 2016. Her most recent short - The Possible - was shortlisted for the Dam International Short Film Festival and Flickfair.  Together with her film Producer, they now have a selection of feature projects they have developed and are looking to finance.  But television drama has always been at least as big a passion as feature films, and 2021 saw her move into this television, with her first run directing a pretty explosive block on Hollyoaks.