Bio
Elissa Down's films embrace the emotional. She is a true "actors' director". On set, Elissa creates a warm and genuinely collaborative environment for her performers to explore their characters. Her films do not shy away from moments of fragility, intimacy and confronting realism. For Elissa, these are the scenes that define her work. The results are inspiring, funny and heartfelt. These are stories that connect with audiences all over the world.
The Black Balloon
Elissa's assured debut feature, The Black Balloon, starring Rhys Wakefield, Gemma Ward, Luke Ford, Erik Thomson and Toni Collette - won the Crystal Bear for Best Feature Film "Generation 14plus" at the Berlin Film Festival - where it was also the opening night film. The film was lauded back in her home country where it won 6 Australian Film Institute (AACTA) awards - including Best Film, Best Direction and Best Screenplay. The Black Balloon received over thirty awards across the globe, including accolades from the Australia Directors' and Writers' Guilds, Asia Pacific Screen Awards and Rotten Tomatoes.
From then Elissa has directed episodes of the multiple award winning Australian comedy series, Offspring and adapted and directed the New York Times best selling Colleen Hoover novel Confess into a 7-part drama. Elissa’s second feature The Honor List (Lionsgate), released in 2018. The film stars Meghan Rienks, Sasha Pieterse, Karruche Tran and Arden Cho. Written by Marilyn Fu and produced by Liz Destro for Destro Films, the film deals with themes of loss and female friendship set against that awkward senior year of high school. The crew on the film was 60% female. It was the opening night film at Bentonville Film Festival.
Elissa completed her third film Feel the Beat. This family dance stars Sofia Carson and was produced by Susan Cartsonis. It releases world wide on June 19th. Elissa is also writing and developing a number of projects that she’s set to direct; the Muay Thai drama, Rising Ash, inspired by the true story of Australian fighter Amy Birch, a bio-pic of the infamous Third Reich director, Leni Riefenstahl, Scarred, an adaptation of the novel Skin Deep by Laura Jarrett, as well as The Tempest for the Shakespeare Now series for Hoodlum and Lucky Chap.
AWARDS FOR THE BLACK BALLOON
Winner of the Crystal Bear for Best Feature Film "Generation 14plus" Berlin Film Festival.
Winner of 6 Australian Film Institute (AACTA) awards. Best Film, Best Direction, Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (Luke Ford), Best Supporting Actress (Toni Collette) and Best Editing.
Best Direction in a Feature Film at Australian Director’s Guild Awards.
Winner of Best Original Screenplay at Australian Writer’s Guild Awards.
Winner of Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Toni Collette) at the Australian Film Critics Circle.
Winner of Best Children’s Feature at Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
Winner of Golden Tomato - Best Australian Film – Rotten Tomatoes
PRESS
The Hollywood Reporter
“The Black Balloon” boasts a host of naturalistic performances including a strong turn from Toni Collette as the boys’ demonstrative mother. The ensemble’s easy interactions, couple with a sincere, unsentimental script, make this one of the most genuinely enjoyable films out of Australia in years.”
Rolling Stone
“The film alternates between clever, black comedy and stirring drama, while unapologetically exploring the darkest moments of autism. It’s the combination of the performance of the brilliant primary cast – Collette and the surprising Ward in particular – and the tale of a strong, loving family unit, that makes you ask what the hell is normal anyway”
New York Times
“The blooming puppy love between Thomas and Jackie lends The Black Balloon a welcome strain of tenderness. Mr. Wakefield and Ms. Ward project the innocence of shy, sensitive young people for whom a tentative shared kiss is a very big deal.”