Ella Faye is an award-winning director, writer and performer from Teesside. As a trained clown (Ecole Philippe Gaulier) and selected as one of North East Screen's Directors to Watch 2025, her work combines bold visual storytelling with character-led, absurdist comedy.

Ella recently shadow directed on Series 2 of the BAFTA-Nominated BBC comedy Smoggie Queens (Hat Trick Productions). Her directing credits also include the award-winning short films Spuds and Leap Of Faith, and award-nominated Kindred Spirits narrated by Sheila Reid (Benidorm, Inside No.9). Her work has been recognised globally, including at the BIFA-qualifying Kino London Film Festival, Lift-Off Global Network and  Berlin Women Cinema Festival. Ella has previously worked in comedy for TV as an AD including Dreamland (Merman for SKY) and Ted Lasso S3 (Warner Bros for Apple TV).

With a background in theatre, Ella is the co-founder of Salty Pelican Comedy Improv Theatre championing new and emerging comedians and performers. Ella has directed comedies for Edinburgh Fringe and The Pleasance Theatre, London. She also founded Addis Playhouse, directing two new comedy plays with the support of  the National Theatre of Ethiopia.