Free Speech Film Festival

SPEAK EZ interview with Melinda Raebyne, 04.2024

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Great art doesn't just capture the moment, it allows you to feel it. This is foundation for award winner 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.”


After almost ten years of acting in other people’s films, Melinda decided to make her own films; films spoken from her heart, told in the voices of those who are featured in her films. Melinda is interested in making films that examine important social issues while giving a voice for those who are suffering from the pain of social injustices.


Motivated by her own personal experiences, Melinda films examine important social topics with the hopes of better connecting us with one another. Demonstrating a universal desire to feel a sense of belonging. Through understanding, compassion is possible and with compassion, great change can happen.


March 2016 she received the Right Now Today Humanitarian Award for her work on “Asylum”. Melinda’s first film. 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” a documentary looking at the homeless crisis premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival to two sold out screenings at and won the Audience Choice Award at the 2019 Tacoma Film Festival and the 2020 Turner Legacy Award.


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 filmmaker mentor for Tacoma’s Grand Cinema Film Camp. Melinda is a board member for the WA Lawyers for the Arts and WA Filmworks Film Leadership Council.


Currently, she’s focusing her efforts on three projects. A mini online documentary series, “An Intimate Look COVID-19”. Telling stories from around the world of the beauty and resiliency of the human spirit during these unprecedented times. “For Sale” a multi-media project looking at child sex trafficking. Created to be used as an educational tool in the community to help open up 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.


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  • Year
    2023
  • Runtime
    40:15
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    United States
  • Social Media
  • Director
    Melinda Raebyne