FILMMAKER
Phil Hessler is an executive producer, director and a founding member of the production companies WZRDmedia and Think Less Studios. When he was 19 he began producing his first feature length documentary, Far From Home, the story of Uganda’s first Olympic hopeful in snowboarding. The film found distribution through Red BullMedia House and kick started his career in the unscripted space.
He has since gone on to produce and direct commercials and series for the likes of VICE, The Olympic Channel, Youtube Originals, Ford, Bridgestone, Red Bull, Pinterest, The North Face, and many others. His work has won numerous Telly Awards, Vimeo Staff Picks, Mountainfilm's Spirit Award, and most recently been nominated for the coveted Young Director’s Award at Cannes. He is also part of the esteemed US State Department-sponsored American Film Showcase and has led filmmaking workshops in countries including Ethiopia, Pakistan, Bahrain, and Turkmenistan.
On the film and TV side, Phil and his team developed and produced the series Far From Home and the award-winning feature documentary World Debut for YouTube Originals, which film delves into the subcultures of skateboarding, surfing, and climbing, charting their 20-year journey to the Olympic Games and was executive produced by Tony Hawk. He recently directed and produced the limited series The Crux, exploring the competitive world of climbing in partnership with Little Monsters, The North Face, and National Geographic. Executive Produced by Academy award-winning filmmakers Jimmy Chin and Chai Vasarhelyi. He currently is producing and directing a limited documentary series about the intersection between religion and the opioid crisis in Salt Lake City that is in development with Peacock.
Phil lives in Salt Lake City and serves full-time as an executive producer at Think Less Studios. In his off time he can be found snowboarding, skateboarding, or playing basketball.
Website: www.thinkless.com
Instagram: @therealphilhessler
