Madeline Down
- Director
- Producer
- Screenwriter
Madeline Down is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, director, cinematographer, and producer based in Seattle. She is the co-founder and Creative Director of Studio89, the production arm of Vault89, where she develops and produces documentary, narrative, and branded content focused on emotionally resonant, character-driven storytelling.
Before founding Studio89, Down spent seven seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, leading production and entertainment initiatives that helped shape the organization's long-form storytelling strategy. During her tenure, she created and produced premium documentary series including *The Sound of the Seahawks* and *Season of Boom*, a ten-part series chronicling Seattle's Super Bowl-winning season that generated more than 13 million impressions and over 100,000 hours viewed within its first month of release.
Across documentary, branded, and narrative work, Down's films have screened at more than 25 film festivals nationwide. Her narrative directorial debut, *Sense of Emergency*, a character-driven short inspired by a true story, screened at acclaimed festivals including the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, HollyShorts Film Festival, and Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival. Her work has earned multiple regional Emmy Awards and recognition for excellence in documentary and sports storytelling.
As a screenwriter, Down has completed two feature screenplays and an original television pilot. Her writing explores identity, family, belonging, and the emotional complexities of human connection, often blending grounded realism with elevated genre elements. Her current slate includes an independent family drama feature, a psychological horror feature centered on identity loss, and a prestige television drama currently in development.
In addition to her scripted work, Down continues to direct and produce documentary projects. She is co-directing the feature documentary *Promise*, scheduled to begin production in July 2026.
Whether working in documentary or fiction, Down is drawn to stories that examine how people navigate change, resilience, and the search for meaning. Her filmmaking combines the observational authenticity of documentary with the emotional depth and visual language of narrative cinema.
Before founding Studio89, Down spent seven seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, leading production and entertainment initiatives that helped shape the organization's long-form storytelling strategy. During her tenure, she created and produced premium documentary series including *The Sound of the Seahawks* and *Season of Boom*, a ten-part series chronicling Seattle's Super Bowl-winning season that generated more than 13 million impressions and over 100,000 hours viewed within its first month of release.
Across documentary, branded, and narrative work, Down's films have screened at more than 25 film festivals nationwide. Her narrative directorial debut, *Sense of Emergency*, a character-driven short inspired by a true story, screened at acclaimed festivals including the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, HollyShorts Film Festival, and Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival. Her work has earned multiple regional Emmy Awards and recognition for excellence in documentary and sports storytelling.
As a screenwriter, Down has completed two feature screenplays and an original television pilot. Her writing explores identity, family, belonging, and the emotional complexities of human connection, often blending grounded realism with elevated genre elements. Her current slate includes an independent family drama feature, a psychological horror feature centered on identity loss, and a prestige television drama currently in development.
In addition to her scripted work, Down continues to direct and produce documentary projects. She is co-directing the feature documentary *Promise*, scheduled to begin production in July 2026.
Whether working in documentary or fiction, Down is drawn to stories that examine how people navigate change, resilience, and the search for meaning. Her filmmaking combines the observational authenticity of documentary with the emotional depth and visual language of narrative cinema.
