Patrick Shen is a renowned filmmaker and the founder of Transcendental Media, a production company that has produced numerous award-winning films. Shen's cinematic works include Flight from Death: The Quest for Immortality, The Philosopher Kings, La Source, and In Pursuit of Silence, which premiered at SXSW 2016 and was released in over 150 theaters across 8 countries.
Shen's films have received widespread recognition, garnering 24 awards and 12 nominations. They have been featured on prominent platforms such as the TED blog, CNN, Huffington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, and Washington Post. Throughout his career, Shen has presented his work at hundreds of film festivals, cinemas, museums, and academic institutions worldwide, including SXSW, CPH:DOX, Sheffield Doc/Fest, Full Frame Film Festival, USC School of Cinematic Arts, The Smithsonian, The Hammer Museum, The Music Center, Princeton, and Harvard University.
Shen's early experience in non-fiction filmmaking dates back to 1999, when he served as second unit director and art director on the Emmy-nominated We Served With Pride. His work on the film earned him a visit to the Oval Office, where he met with President Clinton.
In addition to his work as a filmmaker, Shen is an adjunct professor at USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he teaches directing in the graduate documentary production course. Since 2012, he has been lecturing and teaching filmmaking workshops globally as a film envoy for the U.S. State Department and USC School of Cinematic Arts' American Film Showcase. Shen has also served as a mentor and Creative Advisor for Film Independent Global Media Makers and taught workshops for the Sundance Institute.
Recent releases from Shen include The Dawn Chorus, a crowd-sourced film inspired by the COVID-19 lockdown, which premiered at the DC Environmental Film Festival and The Walker Art Center; the award-winning film Day of a Stranger; and the L.A. Times short documentary The Picture Taking Experiment. Shen is currently working on two new films, As Slow As Possible and In Praise of Shadows.
