Daily Inspiration: Meet Patrick Schweiss

Today we’d like to introduce you to Patrick Schweiss.

Hi Patrick, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Patrick Schweiss is the executive director of the Sedona International Film Festival and Theatres. Twenty-two years ago he took the helm at the festival and has overseen its growth from a 3-day festival to a 9-day celebration of independent film. In 2012, he initiated and oversaw the festival organization as it built its own arthouse theatre venue: The Mary D. Fisher Theatre, where it presents year-round independent films, theatrical and ballet productions on screen from around the world, live simulcasts and live theatrical events, as well as other arts and cultural events. In June 2022, the festival opened its newest addition: the Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre. Now it has two theatre venues that operate daily all year long!

Through the theatres, he has been able to bring cultural events to Sedona that may not otherwise have been seen by our residents and tourists, including the Met Live Opera, Bolshoi and Royal Ballet productions, National Theatre of London, Broadway on Screen productions, Exhibition on Screen and Great Art on Screen exhibits, The Globe and Royal Shakespeare Company productions, live simulcasts and events as well as live theatrical and musical concerts; not to mention the main offerings at the theatre: the best independent films from around the word. In addition, he has spearheaded collaborations with several other non-profit organizations in Sedona to co-produce and present events at the theatre.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
A fairly smooth road, thanks to the incredible and generous support of our membership, community and visiting audience members. Their generosity has paved the road for our success and is a driving force for our daily programming.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the executive director of the Sedona International Film Festival. As such, I oversee the programming and fundraising for our main 9-day film festival in February every year as well as the daily operations of our two year-round art house theatre screens: the Mary D. Fisher and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatres. I head up the teams that make all of this possible, and I am the program director for everything we schedule year-round here at the theatres. I have a passion for independent film and the storytellers that share their passion on screen for all of us to enjoy and appreciate it. I am most known and respected for being a team player, and I treat all of our staff, volunteers and collaborators as “family”, which makes it a phenomenal and productive work environment.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Always ask for help. That is how I have made it in this business. When I started in this position 22 years ago, I depended on the help of mentors and friends in the business to guide me on the right path. Since then, I have learned to pay it forward and help others in similar situations. I have become a mentor to new people in our industry. And I have learned to take advantage of all of the resources in our network and the vast knowledge of those who have been doing this longer than me. I don’t know everything; but I know how to find the answers and who to go to for help.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://SedonaFilmFestival.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sedonafilmfestival/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SedonaInternationalFilmFestival

Image Credits
Sedona International Film Festival