Marquis Who’s Who Honors Nadine M. Patterson for Expertise in Entertainment

She aims to complete and distribute “Reclaiming the Light: The Life and Times of Lewis Latimer,” inspiring youth by highlighting black inventors’ foundational roles within technological history.

PHILADELPHIA, PA, July 22, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ — Nadine M. Patterson has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Ms. Patterson has established a distinguished career as an independent filmmaker and chief executive officer of Harmony Image Productions Inc., a company she co-founded in 1995 with her mother, Marlene G. Patterson. Over the past three decades, she has led the organization in producing films that illuminate underrepresented histories and foster cross-cultural understanding. Her films are known for pairing striking imagery with compelling soundtracks done in collaboration with performers/composers such as Ursula Rucker, Lenny Seidman, and Warren Oree.

Among her most recent work, Ms. Patterson is working on a documentary project about Lewis Latimer, the pioneering inventor whose technical expertise was instrumental in the development of electric lighting and telecommunications. This ambitious production is a collaborative effort involving producer and co-writer Martha Richards Conley, a trailblazing Pittsburgh-based filmmaker and legal professional, as well as Parris Z. Moore, a Sundance Award-winning filmmaker. The project has garnered support from institutions such as the Pittsburgh Foundation and the Quebec film office, enabling research trips and international partnerships that underscore Ms. Patterson’s commitment to global storytelling.

Ms. Patterson’s career previously included significant contributions to SIFTMedia 215 (Sisters in Film and Television), where she served as a program manager, then resource strategist and managing director between 2019 and 2024. In these roles, she developed strategies to secure financial resources for independent filmmakers and advanced initiatives that promote diversity in media production. During her stint with SIFTMedia 215 she executive produced 12 short films that appear in the compilations called “The Covid 1619 Project” and “Good Grief.” “Good Grief” was broadcast on PhillyCAM in 2025 and along with Philly CAM received a Hometown Media Award for “Mixed and Transmedia Producer” from the Foundation for the Alliance of Community Media.

From 2022 to 2023, Ms. Patterson worked as a consulting program officer at The Philadelphia Foundation, where she leveraged her expertise to support diverse arts organizations and artists in the Philadelphia metro area. Between 2014 and 2020, she worked as an outreach producer, social media strategist and consultant for Shirley Road Productions in Narberth, Pennsylvania, broadening her impact within the regional film community through her efforts to promote the documentary “Black Ballerina” directed by Frances McElroy. “Black Ballerina” has been broadcast on over 200 PBS stations and remains on Amazon Prime Video.

Ms. Patterson’s academic engagement included serving as a documentary film strategist at the Center for Documentary Production and Study within the Department of Media Arts at Robert Morris University from 2017 to 2019 after initially serving as a visiting documentary filmmaker on campus in Moon Township in 2016. As a visiting documentary filmmaker, she played a pivotal role in establishing MoonDocs, a documentary festival that continues to enrich Pittsburgh’s cultural landscape.

Ms. Patterson’s longstanding relationship with Scribe Video Center began in 1989 when she took classes under renowned writer Toni Cade Bambara. She later became an instructor and coach at Scribe from 1991 until 2016, guiding community organizations in producing documentaries on critical social issues and mentoring emerging filmmakers.

During her early years, Ms. Patterson held roles as a programmer for WYBE TV 35 Public Television (which is now a media arts foundation Peoples Media Fund) during “Through the Lens 4” from 1993 to 1994, as a programmer for Neighborhood Film/Video Project at International House between 1991 and 1992. From 1988 until 1998, Ms. Patterson worked off and on for the School District of Philadelphia, starting as a freelance camera person before advancing to producer for educational cable television stations Channel 51 and Channel 52. There, she produced live language programming in multiple languages, including Chinese, Spanish, Italian, German, French and Swahili. This experience deepened Ms. Patterson’s appreciation for multiculturalism and informed her later work.

Ms. Patterson graduated from Philadelphia High School for Girls in 1982. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in drama with a minor in economics from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, earned in 1986. Her undergraduate years were marked by a shift from acting to directing due to limited opportunities for black actresses during that era, a decision that set her on a course toward filmmaking. From there, Ms. Patterson completed a Master of Science in instructional media technology from West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1988. During this period, she gained practical experience working part-time at the university’s cable television station under Barry Crutchfield, a mentor who helped solidify her path into television production by blending storytelling with technology. More recently, Ms. Patterson obtained a Master of Arts in filmmaking from the London Film School in 2005, a transformative experience that broadened her global perspective through collaboration with classmates from diverse countries, including Poland, Mexico, Canada, Paraguay, Brazil, Japan and the U.K.

Active in her professional community, Ms. Patterson is affiliated with the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, reflecting her dedication to historical preservation through programming tailored for schools and churches. A major milestone in her professional journey was co-founding the transition of the Philadelphia Independent Film and Video Association into an official Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation in 2000. This achievement secured vital resources for regional media artists and strengthened Philadelphia’s independent film infrastructure.

Ms. Patterson’s civic engagement is extensive. She is president of the board of Extended Play, a nonprofit supporting socially conscious filmmakers. Under her stewardship, Extended Play has facilitated funding for local projects and expanded professional opportunities for filmmakers, including sponsorships to major industry events such as the Toronto International Film Festival. Ms. Patterson also served two-and-a-half years with Color Congress advocating for diversity within media arts organizations nationwide. As a founding member of Philadelphia Community Access Media (PhillyCAM), she played an instrumental role following her appointment by the city council after a prolonged community campaign that resulted in Philadelphia’s first major public access station, an initiative credited with boosting local economic activity by empowering filmmakers citywide. For over 10 years, Ms. Patterson also volunteered as the curator, outreach lead, publicist and booking agent for the Delta International Film Festival alongside the Philadelphia alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., curating screenings featuring prominent figures such as Haile Gerima, Toni Cade Bambara, Sonia Sanchez and Louis Massiah while showcasing films highlighting Afro-Latino, West African, and African American heritage.

Among her most notable curatorial work, Ms. Patterson became recognized as one of the first curators for the Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema, now known as the Philadelphia Film Festival, in the early 1990s. She was also credited as the curator for the Trenton Film Society from 2010 to 2012, as a collaborating artist for “IF SHE STOOD” at Painted Bride Art Center between 2011 and 2013, as the curator and photographer for “FREEDOM, FIRE & PROMISCUOUS MEETINGS” at Painted Bride Art Center from 2012 to 2013, and as the coordinating producer at Scribe in Philadelphia in 2016 for their Great Migration Film and Media Series.

More recently, Ms. Patterson’s works have included “We Are Free Because of Harriet Tubman.” Released in 2019, the short film explores Harriet Tubman’s legacy, featuring poetry by Sonia Sanchez and music by Christian McBride, screened at the Black Star Film Festival; and “Tango Macbeth,” produced with Marlene Paterson and Martha Richards Conley, who served as the assistant director on that project. Ms. Patterson is also credited with producing with Parris Z. Moore “Black Ninja,” starring writer/director/actor Clayton Prince an action-adventure film currently being restored by Reel Black for future release. Notably, her ongoing docu-drama about Lewis Latimer draws upon collaborations with historians such as Dr. Kit August and commentary from Dr. Victor Lawrence, affirming Latimer’s enduring technological impact, and has received widespread interest following successful teaser presentations at venues like the AT&T Innovation Center in February 2026.

Ms. Patterson’s creative achievements have been recognized through numerous honors, including a group award in 2006 from Bread & Roses Community Fund for fighting for public access television and broadening the field of community participation in media/news in Philadelphia. She also received a $10,000 Media Arts Award from the state of Pennsylvania, major project grant recipient status from The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage for “If You Stood,” a collaborative exhibition exploring African life in the Americas, and three nominations for fellowships from The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.

Looking ahead, Ms. Patterson aims to complete and distribute “Reclaiming the Light: The Life and Times of Lewis Latimer,” inspiring youth by highlighting black inventors’ foundational roles within technological history while building comprehensive production systems through Harmony Image Productions Inc., alongside parallel distribution efforts via Extended Play, ensuring multicultural global stories receive proper recognition within society. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated unwavering dedication to amplifying marginalized voices, fostering cross-cultural dialogue through cinema advocacy, education and organizational leadership, leaving an indelible mark on both local communities and international audiences alike.

About Marquis Who’s Who®:

Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who’s Who in America® and Who’s Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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