Allyson West is an award-winning filmmaker, producer, director, performer, and the founder and executive director of the Cindependent Film Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio. A native Texan, West earned her BFA in Acting from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) before moving to New York City to pursue a career in performance. She later returned to Cincinnati, where her experiences as a performer and independent filmmaker inspired her to create new opportunities for artists in the region.
West began making her own films after struggling to find consistent acting work. Her 2016 short film Texican, which she wrote, produced, directed, and performed in, went on to screen at numerous film festivals and receive multiple awards and nominations. The experience exposed her to independent filmmaking communities around the country and ultimately led her to envision a film festival that would give Cincinnati filmmakers and visiting artists a dedicated platform.
In 2018, West founded the Cindependent Film Festival, an organization dedicated to creating a home for independent filmmaking in Cincinnati. As executive director, she has worked to build a community around independent film while providing filmmakers with opportunities for education, professional development, networking, and exhibition. The festival has grown into a significant part of Cincinnati’s independent film community.
Known for her entrepreneurial spirit, collaborative approach, and passion for storytelling, West focuses on creating meaningful connections between filmmakers, audiences, and the broader Cincinnati community. Her work reflects a belief that independent film can not only tell compelling stories but also strengthen communities and create opportunities for emerging creative voices.
What makes people care enough to show up, come back, and bring others with them? In this energetic and interactive session, Allyson West shares lessons from building Cincinnati's independent film ecosystem and creating a community-driven brand that people proudly champion. Attendees will leave inspired and equipped with practical tools to turn audiences into advocates, customers into ambassadors, and ideas into movements.
