Elyse Frenchman

Elyse is a documentary filmmaker and advocate based in Brooklyn, New York. With over a decade of filmmaking experience, Elyse recently directed and edited two films for the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Sites in Montgomery, Alabama. Other documentary projects include Hotline (Venice Biennale, 2025), Fragments of Paradise (Venice Film Festival, 2022), and several acclaimed HBO documentaries: The Soul of America, the Emmy-winning King in the Wilderness, and the Emmy and Peabody-winning True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality.

Elyse is an advocate for social and environmental justice issues. She is a long-time volunteer with the Parole Preparation Project, helping people prepare for parole hearings. Previously, she lived aboard a Sea Shepherd vessel documenting anti-poaching efforts.

Elyse founded The Way We See to combine her skills as a filmmaker with her justice advocacy. She believes that each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done and strives to spread more love in the world. She is a former professional figure skater, aspiring slam poet, and cave exploring enthusiast. She lives with her husband and dog, Reggie Rainbow, in Brooklyn, New York.