Elyse Neiman Seiter

FOUNDER/MINDFUL FILMMAKER

Elyse is an Emmy-award winning director and producer with over 20 years of experience in both short and long-form documentary-style TV, film and digital content production. (See ELYSENEIMAN.COM for professional credits.)

In her many years as a field producer/cinematographer of MTV’s documentary series True Life, Elyse saw how filming someone during a difficult life moment or crisis made them feel seen, heard, and validated, and this planted the seed for her future endeavors. As an enthusiast of Buddhist philosophy, meditation and holistic health and healing, Elyse seeks to weave together the spiritual principles that feed and guide her life with the process of mindful filmmaking, using her craft to tell compassionate, poignant and thoughtful stories that inspire others to live their own lives with more presence and attention.

Elyse knows first-hand how uprooting and isolating a health crisis can feel after experiencing her own cancer diagnosis in her mid-30s, whuch lead to a pivotal shift towards living a more authentic life. Elyse wanted to create Mindful Films to bring personal stories of illness, healing, and end-of-life to a larger audience in order to make an impact and remind people of the preciousness of life. In 2023, she completed a year-long program at The New York Zen Center called Foundations in Contemplative Care, where she learned about how to be in relationship with, bear witness to, and hold space for those nearing the end of their life. She hopes to become a pioneer in the field of Film as Narrative Medicine and educate others about what she calls "Mindful Filmmaking." Elyse lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and two kids, and volunteers in hospice regularly.

MICHELLE VALLADARES

ADVISOR: FILM PRODUCER, POET, WRITER, BUDDHIST

Michelle is the Director of the MFA Program in Creative Writing at The City College of New York, an award-winning documentary film producer and a poet who was recently nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Elyse took her first Buddhist meditation class with Michelle in 2013 and had a profound experience, which set her on a path of spiritual seeking and meditation practice.

JOHN BURT

SENIOR ADVISOR: FUNDRAISING FOR ARTISTS

John and Elyse met while students at the NY Zen Center in their Contemplative Care program. John brings 30+ years of experience in fundraising in the performing arts and visual arts sector to Mindful Films, and is a mentor to Elyse for fundraising efforts and strategies. John resides in both Vermont and NYC.

Rev. RICHARD I. DIEBERT, MD, PhD, MDIV.

ADVISOR: END-OF-LIFE EXPERT, HOSPICE DIRECTOR

Richard has a wealth of experience ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of end-of-life patients. As a doctor and spiritual leader, he specializes in helping people live well by providing care, comfort and compassion.  Richard is an advisor to Mindful Films' Sensitivity Training For Mindful Filmmakers program.

DR. MARTHA EDDY, CMA, RSMT, EDD

ADVISOR: SOMATIC THERAPIST, DANCER, FOUNDING DIRECTOR, MOVING FOR LIFE

Martha founded and heads Moving For Life, a woman-led non-profit organization with over 15 years of leadership in the field of cancer recovery through exercise. Martha works directly with cancer patients through weekly dance classes, and has created a successful non-profit after just a few years. She is also the author of a new book, "Mindful Movement: The Evolution of the Somatic Arts and Conscious Action."  She is dedicated to helping those with cancer, and believes strongly in the mission of Mindful Films and the healing it can bring to patients and survivors.

LIBBY NELSON

ADVISOR: PROFESSIONAL LIFE COACH, BLOGGER, SUPERMOM

Libby has trained with the International Coaching Foundation and is currently a practicing Life Coach specializing in the struggles of women and moms.  She is also the founder of the Me, Too Project, an initiative focused on telling the stories of women and the pain they carry.  Libby brings a deep intuitive sense to the process of storytelling, and believes that sharing our struggles and vulnerabilities with each other makes us stronger and more equipped to deal with whatever life throws at us.  Libby and Elyse are currently collaborating on Mindful Films that focus on topics that affect women, such as miscarriage, motherhood, and gender discrimination.