Director's Works
Within Reach Maxime Ellies
Maxime Ellies is a director and photographer that first gained recognition through music videos, collaborating with a wide range of French and international artists such as Aryastarr, Amaarae, Dosseh, Dinos, Flohio, Isha, and SDM. Driven by curiosity and a strong visual culture, Maxime developed a versatile skill set early on, combining directing, editing, post-production, and 3D techniques. This technical fluency, paired with a sharp sense of rhythm and narrative, has shaped a distinctive visual style rooted in movement and emotion. Today, Maxime focuses primarily on sports and outdoor advertising, working across both film and photography. His recent collaborations include iconic brands such as META, Oakley, Salomon, and Arc’teryx, where he brings a cinematic, performance-driven approach to brand storytelling.
In May 2025, I met Ash for the first time in Paris while I was subletting my apartment. As I helped her carry her bag, I noticed a pair of climbing shoes hanging from her backpack. We spontaneously went climbing together that same day, barely knowing each other.
Over the next few months, we quickly became good friends, bonding over shawarma, art, and our love for the outdoors.
We spoke of our goals, and at the time, I was questioning my own ambitions — feeling the need to move closer to nature and to create work that truly reflects who I am.
After some climbing trips to Fontainebleau together, I felt the urge to capture the serendipity of our meeting through a film — a way to pay tribute to Ash and her mindful, tranquil approach to climbing.
That’s how WITHIN REACH was born. Two worlds collided over a shared passion. One day of shooting, a few weeks of editing, and here it is.
