Former AMPAS East Coast VP Patrick Harrison Joins Frank PR To Develop New Strategic Awards Division
EXCLUSIVE: Patrick Harrison, a longtime and well-known executive for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in New York, is moving on to a newly created position with Frank PR. He is joining principals Clare Anne Darragh and Lina Catalfamo Plath to develop a “strategic awards division,” with plans to further engage the company in the ever-growing and lucrative business of campaigns and events targeted to the industry’s award seasons.
For the past two decades Harrison had been a much loved figure among the 1000-plus East Coast-based members of AMPAS, having been their key connection to Academy programs there. In his new job, he will remain involved heavily in Oscar season, just from the other side of the fence as it were.
“I am excited to join the Frank PR family in partnership with Clare Anne and Lina, two industry professionals I have respected, admired, and worked alongside throughout my career,” he said. “Continuing my love of film and supporting the work of established and upcoming filmmakers are passions of mine.”
“Patrick is a talented and highly respected executive whose passion for our industry and exceptional relationships make him the perfect partner to build this division. We have had the privilege to work alongside him throughout our careers and look forward to creating this new venture together,” Darragh and Catalfamo Plath said.
Harrison has been an advocate of advancing the careers of future filmmakers by connecting veteran filmmakers to young artists nationally on college campuses from Hawaii to Appalachia and internationally in Africa. He currently serves on the board of directors of Film at Lincoln Center and the Woodstock Film Festival and serves in an advisory role at Stockade Works in the Hudson Valley.
In the mid-1990s, Harrison worked at Miramax supporting the film and award campaigns for multiple Oscar-winning films. Before that, he had worked at AMPAS as a staffer beginning in 1991.
After his stint at Miramax he returned to AMPAS’ New York operation in 2001 when he served as Director NY Programs and Membership. He certainly brings his own unique perspective to the awards landscape, having overseen the creation and implementation of all Academy programs on the East Coast including weekly membership screenings and filmmaker conversations, film retrospectives, tributes, national educational outreach initiatives and the annual Oscar Night New York celebrations.
Collaborating with his global AMPAS colleagues, studio executives and members from every branch of the Academy, Harrison produced the Academy Conversations film series and moderated post-screening conversations with key creators.
In July 2022, Harrison was promoted to VP Member Relations and Global Outreach, but later that year took a leave of absence, reportedly for personal family reasons. In a March 24 email to East Coast members, AMPAS president Janet Yang and CEO Bill Kramer updated them saying Harrison had left the Academy and thanked him for his long service.
Frank PR was launched in 2008 by Darragh and Catalfamo Plath, who have over 25 years experience and previously held posts at New Line Cinema, Miramax, Fine Line Features and October Films. Recent film projects include John Wick: Chapter 4, Mafia Mamma, Somewhere In Queens, Being Mary Tyler Moore, You People and more. They work with filmmakers including Oscar winner Roger Ross Williams and Lisa Cortés; actor John Turturro; producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey; and production companies Flynn Pictures, Davis Entertainment, ShivHans Pictures, Assemble Media and Red Crown Productions among others.