Patty West

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT PATTY WEST

Patty West is a filmmaker and educator, passionate about creating arts education affordably and accessibly around the world. Currently, West is the Director of Sundance Collab, the global online learning platform for creators from the Sundance Institute now with over artists in 177 countries.Previously, as the Thesis Department Head at the AFI Conservatory, she provided leadership and guidance to 120 graduate students per year as they produced 30 films in an industry-leading and highly competitive higher education program. At AFI, West also led the 40+ year old Directing Workshop for Women, growing the application pool by three times, making it one of the most competitive filmmaking programs worldwide. Working with the Advancement department, she helped increase program support by 16 times the previous funding and garnered industry support and attention by implementing an Artists-in-Residence program and unique opportunities for filmmakers with companies like Google and A+E Networks.Other accomplishments at AFI include founding an alumni mentor program, a professional development program,\"thesis bootcamp\" and post-production programs, creating web series and VR production tracks, starting unconscious bias training, launching a sustainable production (\"green\") initiative, conceiving of an Online Theater for the catalogue of short films, and reimagining the Thesis Showcase.West has served in producing roles on SOME GIRL(S), ADDICTED TO FRESNO and THEY. As an experienced producer, Patty brings real-world knowledge and understanding to her students – designing curriculum from financing and development through production and distribution. Patty holds a B.S. from Northwestern University, an M.F.A. in Producing from the AFI Conservatory and an Executive M.B.A. from Quantic School of Business & Technology. She is a member of the Producers Council in the Producers Guild of America.