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Melinda Raebyne, has been promoted to the position of Executive Director!

by Elaine Hall April 23, 2026 0

The Meaningful Movies Project community could not be more thrilled to announce that our Manager, Melinda Raebyne, has been promoted to the position of Executive Director! Melinda is an accomplished, independent filmmaker and director who has been a part of MMP since 2022. Throughout her time here, she has consistently brought a positive attitude and a contagious passion for the non-profit’s goals of using the power of film to build community and inspire change. Melinda has been a driving force of MMP in recent years. Among her many roles, she has organized screenings, supported the many neighborhood branches of MMP, and created partnerships with community organizations. We are all so grateful for her support and look forward to continuing working with Melinda in her new position!

Outside of MMP, Melinda has created several award-winning films, tackling the projects with the same air of passion, empathy, and drive that she brings to all of her work. Her latest documentary Ellos Gritan Libertad (They Scream Freedom) revealed the disturbing reality of Cuba and the consequences of unkept promises from a sixty-two-year-old revolution, as well as the Cuban people’s courage and strength. The film won the Documentary Director award (International category) at the 2023 Social World Film Festival in Italy. Some of her other films include An Intimate Look: COVID-19, Stories of Us: Camp Second Chance, and For Sale. Currently, Melinda is working on a project entitled Through My Eyes. It offers an unfiltered and honest perspective of childhood through videos captured by the youth on their cell phones. More information about her work can be found on her website (melindaraebynefilms.com).

I have had the joy of working with Melinda since mid-2022 when I joined MMP as a high school intern, and I am so grateful for everything I have learned through working with her. She is wonderfully supportive and encouraging. She always motivates us to put our best foot forward and be creative. Melinda does an incredible job of handling all of her roles at MMP and inspiring all of the people that she interacts with along the way. I am so proud of her and know that she will do an incredible job as Executive Director! 

A Message from Melinda

In May of 2022, I was given the opportunity to be the Manager for Meaningful Movies Project while also being asked to help expand the awareness of MMP into communities. Not many parameters were given to me. The MMP Board trusted me to bring this to fruition while allowing me to do it with my own creative style. From bringing co-hosts and special speakers to MMP Award Ceremonies, to partnering with community organizations—from the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission to Fix Democracy First, Shoreline College, Sierra Club, The Pierce County Tacoma Black Collective, the Seattle Latino Film Festival, and many more—my drive was fueled not just by the support of the MMP Board, but by our gifted volunteers who tirelessly work beside me to uphold the Meaningful Movies Project vision of using film and supportive, safe community conversations as powerful tools to help bring us all closer to peace.

My new title of Executive Director wasn’t earned from my efforts alone, but by the MMP team, who stood beside me doing important work to get MMP out into their neighborhoods—organizing their own screenings, creating and sharing MMP marketing materials, promoting our larger network screenings, and attending larger-scale events to provide support and a helping hand. We are a family here at MMP, and as I move forward with this new title, I will continue to lean on our network of talented, caring, hardworking volunteers and the Board to help decide how we will shape and support Meaningful Movies Project for the future. I’m excited to see how the unlimited possibilities of the unknown will unfold. 

• Melinda Raebyne, your Executive Director of Meaningful Movies Project

Other Meaningful Movies Project testimonies:

“Working with Melinda Raebyne has been a total delight. As Board Chair, I have bi-weekly meetings to hear about all the goings on at MMP and make sure Melinda is feeling supported. She does an incredible job juggling a lot of spinning plates for MMP. In addition to bringing new venues and their volunteers on board at MMP, she holds monthly venue leader meetings to discuss concerns, share how events went and any lessons learned, foster relationships and support these volunteers. Melinda also nurtures multiple teams of volunteers, from High Schoolers, to technology, to social media, ensuring they have what they need to do their work in bringing social justice documentaries to the MMP venues. Melinda is also our ambassador extraordinaire! She builds ongoing partnerships with colleges, film associations, and a wide assortment of nonprofit partners. Melinda is an amazing dynamo and has helped MMP to grow and thrive into its third decade of existence! We are so lucky to have her leading our team and mission.”

• Ren Dietel, MMP Board Chair

“I have worked with Melinda for years on getting difficult listings posted on the MM website.  She has always been eager to contribute with resourceful, creative and dependable solutions.  The high quality of Melinda’s work makes this promotion to Executive Director truly Meaningful.  CONGRATULATIONS Melinda.”

• David Isaak, MM Bellevue Group

“Working with Melinda at Meaningful Movies Project has been a truly enriching experience. As an Administrator, I’ve had the privilege of supporting her leadership and witnessing firsthand her clarity of vision, compassion, and unwavering commitment to purpose-driven work. Melinda leads with both strength and empathy, creating a collaborative environment where excellence and integrity thrive. Her promotion to Executive Director is not only well deserved, but a powerful reflection of the impact she continues to make on the organization and everyone she works with.”

• Fungai Kahari MMP Administrator

“I’ve known Melinda professionally for more than 20 years, and to see her evolve into her current role has been thrilling. She is a gifted storyteller; helping others share their voices with the world is how she lives her purpose. Elevating stories about our fascinating differences and uncovering what connects us is in her DNA. I’m grateful she continues to share her passion with the MMP community.”

• Scout Colmant, MMP Board Member

“We are delighted to learn that the Board of Directors of the Meaningful Movie Project recently promoted Melinda Raebyne to the position of Executive Director. We have worked with Melinda for a number of years and value her expertise, experience, passion, and commitment to the mission of MM.  As a film maker, Melinda offers important insights to the members of the Meaningful Movie Network as we search for documentaries and negotiate the complex process of securing permission to show films.  Melinda has done stellar work developing relationships with various film distributors that greatly expand the choice of films and make the royalties and screening fees affordable.  Melinda has also done a great job of furthering the building of a cohesive MM Network including technical training, making film recommendations, facilitating co-sponsorships, sharing screening experiences, and assisting in the challenging task of arranging for speakers and panel members for an informative community conversation that inspires viewers to take action.  Of particular importance is Melinda’s work with high school students leading to the expansion of the MM audience and infusing new energy into the MM Project.  Less visible, but crucial, is Melinda’s gentle persistence in encouraging members of the Network to report audience numbers, screening locations, expert speakers and panel participants, and other factors that aid in the building of a data base that serves as an important reference and tells the story of MM.  We are looking forward to continuing our collaboration with Melinda.”

• Park Johnson and Peg Hunter, Meaningful Movies Port Townsend