Jayapal Honors Life of Filmmaker and Director Lynn Shelton

U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, submitted the following official statement to the Congressional Record in honor of the life of Seattle filmmaker and director Lynn Shelton:

On Saturday, May 16, 2020, Seattle unexpectedly lost the kind-hearted, luminous filmmaker Lynn Shelton.  Shelton made her first film in 2006 – We Go Way Back – adding seven more films to her oeuvre in the ensuing years, including Your Sister’s Sister and Sword of Trust.  All but the last film showcased the essence of the Pacific Northwest in environment and feeling, but the themes and directorial treatments were always uniquely her own.

Most recently, she focused her directing skills on episodes of well-known television series, living in Los Angeles to be close to this work.  However, she remained tied to the northwest, notably participating in The Stranger’s daily “Message to the City” column.  In her video, she shared how she discovered that singing out loud lifted her mood and to illustrate the point, she produced a medley of friends singing songs, having learned how to edit the video on her phone along the way.

Ms. Shelton leaves behind a deep impression on the local artistic community.  Even beyond the success of her films, she will be remembered for the kindness with which she treated those around her, for her enjoyment of life, and for her prodigious talent.

Ms. Shelton is survived by her son Milo Seal, her husband of many years Kevin Seal, her parents, three siblings, as well as Marc Maron, with whom she spent the last year of her life.

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