Selected Press

Half visual essay, half verbal investigation, “Silence” is thoughtful and informative as well as contemplative and restorative. It both tells you why you perhaps yearn for silence and shows you what it would look like if you could find it.”
-Kennth Turan | Los Angeles Times


…this elegant sermon by Patrick Shen on why we should dial down the racket of our daily lives will make you consider turning off and tuning out.”
-Jeannette Catsoulis | New York Times


As much a visual treat as an aural one, the film divides its time between using the tools of cinema to isolate and enhance the beauty of sounds and silence and exploring different schools of thought on the subject.”
Scott Tobias | NPR


In Pursuit of Silence is a wonderfully shot film and one which is best experienced on a big screen where its images’ composition and acute sound mixing can be fully appreciated.”
-Argun Ulgen | Pop Matters


…one of the most truly meditative and deeply inventive films of the year.”
-Kate Erbland | IndieWire


…beguiling, meditative and elegantly photographed documentary.
-Joe Morgenstern | Wall Street Journal


Both the poet and activist in Shen deserves to be heard.
-De Standaard


Asian America – The Ken Fong Podcast // June 2020

Encountering Silence Podcast // April 2020

Encountering Silence Podcast // April 2018

Spirituality and Health Magazine Podcast // October 2017

Monocle 24 Radio // December 2016

Flickering Myth | Film Review // November 2016

MovieMaker Magazine // August 2016

The State of Things (WUNC Public Radio) // July 2016

New Scientist // June 2016

TED | Putting Silence Under the Microscope // June 2016

Austin Chronicle | SXSW Film Review // March 2016

Huffington Post | A Quiet Movie With Much to Say // March 2016

SXSW | Filmmakers in Focus // February 2016

CNN | Hero for Haiti // January 2015

Sonic Field | Interview with Director Patrick Shen // November 2014

Patheos | Talking about Silence: An Interview with Patrick Shen // October 2014

Designing Sound | Interview with Patrick Shen // June 2014

The Washington Post | Review of La Source // October 2013

The Wrap | How Oscar Entry ‘La Source’ Launched a Campaign for Clean Water // Nov 2012

Huffington Post | La Source Tells the Story of Janitor Who Brought Clean Water to Haiti // July 2012

SoundWorks Collection | The Sound and Music of La Source // July 2012

LA Times | La Source Finds Power in Small Acts of Kindness // August 2012

ComingSoon.net | DocuWeeks 2012 // August 2012

Love in Stereo | Interview with Patrick Shen // Nov 2011

LA Weekly | Review of The Philosopher Kings // June 2010

MovieMaker Magazine | A Perfect Marriage of Art and Community // March 2010

Matador Network | Patrick Shen and The Philosopher Kings // March 2010

Pasadena Weekly | Filmmaker Profiles Eight Custodians Who Keep Great Institutions Running // March 2010

Matador Network | Patrick Shen on the Power of Death Anxiety // Nov 2009

East Bay Express | The Philosopher Kings Shows Us the Unseen Core of Our Society // October 2009

San Francisco Chronicle | San Francisco Documentary Festival // October 2009