Meet Filmmaker Ella
Where it all began: |
Perhaps it was a forgone conclusion that Ella would become a filmmaker, after spending time on so many sets starting at age 3. When not in a particular scene of her sitcom "United We Fall" at age 6, her director let her yell "Action!" and "Cut," and Ella loved feeling invested in what she was seeing on set and on screen.
She's been on a lot of sets since then, and it's been exciting to see Ella bring her incredible ideas to scripts and then films. FUN FACT: All three of Ella's films so far are in the sci-fi/fantasy genre! We're grateful to Jacono Studios for hosting the annual summer Filmmaker Workshop in the Eau Gallie Arts District on Florida's Space Coast, where Ella blossomed into a visual storyteller behind the lens, starting at age 9. For three summers, she's created a short film from concept to creation in one week's time. Just a kid and a camera. And we are beyond grateful to Women in Film and Television Florida for Ella's three years of scholarships to attend this workshop. You have opened so many doors, including... |
Ella becomes youngest ever to win $1,000 Sara Fuller Scholarship
from Film Florida/Women in Film and Television
What a supreme honor for Ella to win this scholarship at age 10! Thank you to Film Florida and Women in Film and Television Florida, two professional organizations of which Ella is a member. Your support means the world. She was encouraged to submit for this scholarship, which has traditionally gone to high school students. We always appreciate all the adults who treat her with respect, and who offer their advice, mentorship and kindness. This scholarship is an investment in the future of the industry, as well as a signal to Ella that her ideas are worthy.
Ella used some of the funds to make her third film, "The Towel," and says she would like to purchase wireless microphones or a drone to step up that filmmaking game!
Click here to read full news coverage --> filmflorida.org/news/ella-grace-helton-sara-fuller-scholarship/
Ella used some of the funds to make her third film, "The Towel," and says she would like to purchase wireless microphones or a drone to step up that filmmaking game!
Click here to read full news coverage --> filmflorida.org/news/ella-grace-helton-sara-fuller-scholarship/
In the News
Click over to Ella's In the news page to see press coverage of her filmmaking and acting projects.
Ella Wins award for her dress design from "The Towel"
LEFT: Ella's towel dress design won first place at the 2024 Space Coast Art Festival. RIGHT: Ella holds the trophy for Best Film in Elementary Division from the 2024 Treasure Coast International Film Festival.
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Congratulations to Ella for winning first place at the 2024 Space Coast Art Festival, in the 3D/sculpture category for grades 6-8!
She was thrilled to receive recognition for her design and execution of the main piece of wardrobe for her short film "The Towel," plus the mini version she made for herself, which she wore to several festivals that screened her film. Ella has a passion for fashion, which is the base theme of her sci-fi/fantasy short film. It's a dream parallel to her own in real life... The film is currently in its festival run, with more pending acceptances through the spring. Once it's completed its festival run, it will be made available to stream, like her previous two films below. Scroll down for more on "The Towel"... |
WATCH: "The Towel," Ella's 3rd short film she wrote, directed & edited at age 11
Continuing her streak of writing a film in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, Ella created "The Towel" as her third film in summer 2024. While the film was done within the one-week Filmmaker Workshop, she did create the main piece of wardrobe around which the film centers, with the help of cosplay costumer Jennifer Frandsen and "The Towel's" lead actress, Delanie Nicole Gill, also a skilled seamstress, just in time for filming.
After the film was completed, Ella worked under the guidance of her multi-medium-talented art mentor, Debbie Pettigrew, to size a new dress down for Ella, which she sewed in time to wear to multiple festivals for the film's opening week.
This film has been entered in a wider array of festivals that either offer a student or youth category or are entirely created to showcase young filmmakers. We've learned that most festivals' categories are for high school or college students, or vaguely imply they are for any filmmaker under 18. Some have or are adding categories to put the youngest (pre high school) filmmakers into the spotlight amongst their peers.
"The Towel" won several awards! After the final festival in September 2025, we will share the film for all to see!
Here are all the festivals where the film screened and won:
2024
Oct. 17: Brooklyn Sci-Fi Film Festival - WON: Silver Medal, Best Young Filmmaker (international filmmakers age 18 & under) and 4th top upvoted film People's Choice (out of 200 films from filmmakers of all ages).
Oct. 19: Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival
Oct. 19: Treasure Coast International Film Festival - WON: Best Elementary School Film
Oct. 26: International KidsNFilm Festival - Finalist
Nov. 16: Smart Phone Flick Fest (Australia) - WON 2 AWARDS: Best Film Primary School & Best Youth Director
2025
Jan. 24: Central Florida Film Festival, official selection (Mount Dora, FL)
Feb. 15: Love Your Shorts Film Festival, official selection (Sanford, FL)
March 29: Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival. 3-5 pm PT at WonderCon (Anaheim, CA)
April 12 & 13: Vero Beach Film Festival, official selection - WON 2 AWARDS: Jury & People's Choice Best Film in Next Up! Student Short – Secondary & High School
Sept 6: Hollywood Florida Film Festival, official selection- Student film winner
After the film was completed, Ella worked under the guidance of her multi-medium-talented art mentor, Debbie Pettigrew, to size a new dress down for Ella, which she sewed in time to wear to multiple festivals for the film's opening week.
This film has been entered in a wider array of festivals that either offer a student or youth category or are entirely created to showcase young filmmakers. We've learned that most festivals' categories are for high school or college students, or vaguely imply they are for any filmmaker under 18. Some have or are adding categories to put the youngest (pre high school) filmmakers into the spotlight amongst their peers.
"The Towel" won several awards! After the final festival in September 2025, we will share the film for all to see!
Here are all the festivals where the film screened and won:
2024
Oct. 17: Brooklyn Sci-Fi Film Festival - WON: Silver Medal, Best Young Filmmaker (international filmmakers age 18 & under) and 4th top upvoted film People's Choice (out of 200 films from filmmakers of all ages).
Oct. 19: Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival
Oct. 19: Treasure Coast International Film Festival - WON: Best Elementary School Film
Oct. 26: International KidsNFilm Festival - Finalist
Nov. 16: Smart Phone Flick Fest (Australia) - WON 2 AWARDS: Best Film Primary School & Best Youth Director
2025
Jan. 24: Central Florida Film Festival, official selection (Mount Dora, FL)
Feb. 15: Love Your Shorts Film Festival, official selection (Sanford, FL)
March 29: Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival. 3-5 pm PT at WonderCon (Anaheim, CA)
April 12 & 13: Vero Beach Film Festival, official selection - WON 2 AWARDS: Jury & People's Choice Best Film in Next Up! Student Short – Secondary & High School
Sept 6: Hollywood Florida Film Festival, official selection- Student film winner
Behind-the-Scenes photos from the Making of "The Towel"
"The Muralist:" Ella honored with multiple awards for second short film she wrote, directed at age 10
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Ella's filmmaking career had a moment! The film she wrote and directed at age 10 in summer 2023, "The Muralist," screened at several film festivals. At its premiere screening, as part of the VIP block at the 25th silver anniversary Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival, Ella was honored with the Independent Spirit Award. This was a shock-and-awe moment, as captured in this video.
It was the first year experiencing multiple film festivals as a filmmaker, and it took effort to find festivals that have categories specifically for youth filmmakers. Many have high school age categories, so we just entered Ella's film into some of those and she still won awards! |
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In 2023, "The Muralist" won:
Scroll down to watch "The Muralist" on Ella's YouTube channel.
- Independent Spirit Award, Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival
- 2nd place Florida Secondary Student Film, Treasure Coast International Film Festival (against all high school entrants)
- Silver Medal, Best Young Filmmakers, Brooklyn Sci-Fi Film Festival (18 and younger)
- People's Choice top most up-voted film, Brooklyn Sci-Fi Film Festival (Special breakout category of films upvoted by festival attendees.)
- Official Selection, Central Florida Cinefest
- Honorable Mention Miami Short Film Festival
Scroll down to watch "The Muralist" on Ella's YouTube channel.
"Wild Thing:" Ella wrote, directed and edited her first short film at age 9
A one-week filmmaking camp changed everything. Ella had been talking for a few years already about wanting to be a director. She's worked with many great ones and she often talks about bringing her ideas to the screen. So, she had her chance in June 2022. She had just one week to put together this 3-minute film called "Wild Thing" Plus there' s a bonus interview at the end that you can only find on Ella's YouTube at this link: