Esabella A.K. Strickland is a 19-year-old Gen Z neurodivergent polymath redefining what it means to be a modern-day Renaissance creative. A multi-award-winning filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, and published author, she is also an award-winning actress, animator, media host, and Gen Z influencer based in Vancouver, BC. Through her work in the arts, Esabella advocates for neurodiversity and anti-bullying initiatives.

In Front of the Camera
Esabella has appeared in numerous productions, including local indie short films Enlightenment, Things You Take, and Arthur’s Gift. She co-wrote, co-directed, and starred in the acclaimed shorts My Red Ball and The Notebook through the Young Movie Makers Program. My Red Ball, inspired by her own experiences with bullying, has screened at over 72 international film festivals and won 12 awards.

Her screen credits also include appearances in Travelers, Good Boys, and A Series of Unfortunate Events, as well as a California Milk commercial. In 2024, she starred alongside Greg Kinnear and Terry Chen in the feature film Sight (Angel Studios), portraying Maria, a blind girl from Moldova.

Behind the Camera
As a filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer, Esabella has earned over 80 international film festival awards. Her short A Conversation with E is a festival favourite, winning at 26 festivals and screening at over 180 worldwide. She co-produced A Dialogue with Pandora with Paul Green, which earned 10 festival awards. Her horror short MiNE, created as part of CineLab, has also garnered multiple accolades.

Esabella is currently part of the Film Volt Creative Program as a neurodivergent Gen Z screenwriter, developing new horror feature films, including the award-winning Death Noise. She is also adapting her award-winning novel Then and There, Here and Where into a feature film and TV pilot as part of the Orabella the Oracle saga.

Hosting & Media
An accomplished media host, Esabella has co-hosted Variety BC’s annual Show of Hearts Telethon as Youth Ambassador since 2019. She has hosted red carpets for EveRIAthing at the Joey Awards, served as ambassador and host for Geektopia 2019 in support of the Amanda Todd Legacy, and was the ambassador and virtual host for Meowfest 2020, raising funds for local animal charities. In 2024, she appeared on her first San Diego Comic-Con panel as part of the SDICFF.

Speaking Engagements
In 2019, Esabella was the youngest Adobe Insider and speaker at the Adobe Summit in Las Vegas, ranking in the top 10 for social media engagement during the event. In October 2024, she spoke at the TED-Ed Summit in New York as part of Etre and the next generation of TEDx speakers.

Author & Artist
Esabella’s debut YA novel, Then and There, Here and Where, was published on March 2, 2021, and became an Amazon #1 Hot New Release. The story follows Orabella, a neurodivergent heroine who inspires young girls to feel connected and empowered.

As a visual artist, Esabella creates paintings, drawings, and custom jean pocket art for celebrities and private clients, donating 10% of sales to local charities. She is currently studying Classical Animation at Vancouver Film School, following her return from Class Afloat, where she sailed 13,900 nautical miles across the Atlantic—twice—and earned her OS Sailing Certificate.

Personal & Advocacy
Living with ADHD, dyslexia, tics, and social anxiety, Esabella has developed her own mindfulness and grounding techniques to thrive both personally and professionally. She considers her two “superpowers” to be exceptional memorization skills and heightened emotional sensitivity—qualities that enhance both her performances and her empathy toward others.