A self-taught filmmaker, Melinda received most of her training as an actor on set. After almost ten years of acting in other people’s films, Melinda decided to make her own; films that speak from her heart, told through the voices of society’s invisible. Giving a voice to those who are typically forgotten in our society.

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Great art doesn't just capture the moment, it allows you to feel it.

This is the foundation for award-winning filmmaker Melinda Raeybne’s work: “When the audience feels the story you are telling, they become a part of it, vested in it, and even motivated to take action.”

In March of 2016, she received the Right Now Today Humanitarian Award for her work on “Asylum,” her first film. “Asylum” is a narrative short that looks at mental trauma brought on by sexual domestic violence. It was awarded Best Narrative Short at the 2018 Cinema On the Bayou Film Festival. “Bound,” a music video she directed, received Best Music Video at the Seattle True Independent Film Festival in 2017. “Stories of Us: Camp Second Chance” is a documentary looking at the homeless crisis. The film premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival to two sold-out screenings and won the Audience Choice Award at the 2019 Tacoma Film Festival and the Turner Legacy Award in 2020.

Melinda served as the Event Director with the Seattle Latino Film Festival in 2013 and 2014. During the Summer of 2016 and 2018, she worked with kids as a filmmaker mentor for Tacoma’s Grand Cinema Film Camp. Melinda serves on the board for WA Lawyers for the Arts and WA Filmworks Film Leadership Council.

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“Recognizing that we all are part of the web of humanity, I'm using the power of storytelling to help change the world for the better. Telling stories that address social issues facing us locally to broader issues that impact us worldwide. Giving a voice to those who in so many cases have become society’s invisible population.”

Melinda Raebyne

What is Melinda working on now?

Currently, she’s focusing her efforts on three projects. A mini online documentary series, “An Intimate Look COVID-19,” pulls from stories from around the world about the beauty and resiliency of the human spirit during these unprecedented times. “For Sale” is a multi-media project looking at child sex trafficking; the project is created to be used as an educational tool in the community to help begin the dialogue with students about sex trafficking. “Our Voices Matter” follows the year-long struggles of a grassroots movement that became the David and Goliath story in fighting the fossil fuel industry. Sign up for the Shui Productions newsletter to stay up to date with her projects!

  • “Melinda is an empathetic and collaborative leader and artist who strives to partner with those whose experiences have been marginalized or silenced, and helps to bring these stories into the light. She's a strong teacher, expressive and inventive, and is always seeking and learning.”

    — Katy Evans, Hilltop Artist Deputy Director

  • “Having seen Melinda Raebyne's work for some years now, I have been continually delighted and impressed with her ever-growing talent and ability to portray the human condition in a relatable way. She always digs deeply into the human psyche and finds that relatable gem in the human condition that strikes a note that is universally understood. Her talent continues to grow and I am always looking forward to seeing the next jewel she shares with us.”

    — Susan Harmon, The Susan Harmon Experience Radio Show

  • "Melinda's film work is simply inspiring. She tackles difficult subjects with grace and talent, as she exposes social injustice and supports underrepresented populations. She has an eye for film and a heart for humanity."

    — Erika Anderson

  • “I have had the pleasure/opportunity to work with Melinda on several projects over the years so I can say without question that her professionalism and attention to detail are unparalleled. She has been able to capture mood and feel in a way that has touched people in ways that have been a large part of the fundraising efforts for several nonprofit organizations I work with. The only thing that exceeds her talent and vision is her heart.”

    — Dr. Sean Adelman