My Work
Border South
Editor, Doc Feature
Migrants are forced into more and more dangerous territory as Mexico and the U.S. crack down on immigration.
Gustavo survives a gunshot wound when he is shot down from atop a train on his journey through Mexico, and Jason, a forensic anthropologist, tries to track down a boy who went missing in the Arizona desert.
Quest
Assistant Editor, Doc Feature
Beginning during the Obama presidency, Christopher "Quest" Rainey and his wife, Christine'a "Ma Quest," raise a family while nurturing a community of hip-hop artists in their basement home music studio. TRAILER LINK
Building a Bridge
Co-Editor, Doc Feature
Father James Martin works to welcome LGBTQ people into the Catholic Church. Coming soon in 2021.
Dreamed
Editor, Series of Doc Shorts
Dreamed is a series of short videos for Topic profiling Dreamers, the DACA recipients with uncertain futures in the US.
2 Toddlers, 10 Minutes
Director/ Editor, Short
How do you cook a healthy, 10 minute meal for 2 impatient toddlers? Spoiler alert: Don't feed them donuts right beforehand.
BIO
Ellen Knechel is a freelance documentary editor with a passion for vérité storytelling. She works on shorts as well as long form documentaries. She began her career in film as a volunteer in Honduras and she often collaborates on projects that deal with Latin America, social justice and immigration. Ellen has an MFA in Film and Media Art from Temple University and she is part of the Karen Schmeer Diversity in the Edit Room Program.