About
Melissa Davey
Documentary Filmmaker
Director / Producer
A Second Act
A Lifelong Passion
for People and Their Stories
Melissa Davey retired from a lengthy corporate career in 2016 to pursue her second act and dream of becoming a filmmaker.
Her work focuses on real people and the extraordinary stories they live—stories of resilience, possibility, and the impact we can make in our communities.
Through her documentaries, Melissa shines a light on the experiences of women, especially later in life, and the vital role they play in shaping a stronger, more compassionate society.
Professional Background
A Career in Advocacy
and Leadership
Melissa began her early career in Legal Services. As a Paralegal, she represented more than one thousand individuals before the Social Security Administration and was a national substantive law trainer for the Legal Services Corporation.
In 1994, Melissa was recruited to the for-profit company Genex, headquartered in Wayne, PA, to build their national Social Security advocacy program. As Vice President of Social Security and Managed Disability for 22 years, she sat on the company’s executive team and worked throughout the United States to create and deliver services to the disability insurance marketplace.
“At age 65, after a day on the set with M. Night Shyamalan, she decided to take a risk and left her career to jump into the unknown.”
The Filmmaking Journey
From a Dream
to the Big Screen
Pursuing her dream of becoming a filmmaker became a reality in late 2018 when Melissa completed her first feature film, Beyond Sixty. During 2019, the film was accepted by and screened at 8 film festivals throughout the United States and Canada, winning awards and confirming that it is never too late to learn something new.
Picked up by a distributor and released in 2021, Beyond Sixty is currently available on most streaming platforms, including AppleTV, Prime Video, Vudu, Vimeo, and YouTubeTV.
Melissa’s second film, Climbing Into Life, details the inspiring life story of Dierdre Wolownick, the oldest woman to ascend El Capitan. The film is currently making the film festival rounds.
A Mission
Bringing Older Women’s
Voices to the Forefront
Melissa’s mission is to bring older women’s voices to the forefront, normalizing their significance and contributions to society. Through her films, she hopes to inspire, educate, and create a deeper understanding of the strength and wisdom that come with experience.
The Films
Featured In
The Wall Street Journal
A profile of Melissa’s second act as a documentary filmmaker.
Read the Article →