Henri M. Kessler
- Producer
Henri M. Kessler is an American film Producer born and raised in New
York City. He has been involved in almost all facets of the entertainment industry
from acting in television commercials to producing films and promoting New York
City's most iconic nightclubs.
From 1996-2002, as CEO and Co-Founder of the film and television production company Offline Entertainment Group, Mr. Kessler Produced Slam (1998 Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner; 1998 Cannes Camera d'Or winner). He also Executive Produced the Slam Soundtrack for Immortal/Epic Records and Co-published the Slam Book with Grove.
Other credits during this time include Producer of Whiteboyz (Canal Plus/ Fox Searchlight), starring Danny Hoch, Piper Perabo, Mark Webber and Dash Mihok; Whiteboyz' Soundtrack (executive produced for TVT); Producer of Brooklyn Babylon (Studio Canal/ Artisan Entertainment), starring Tarik Trotter and the Grammy-winning band The Roots; Executive Producer of Backroads (Official Selection at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival); and Co-Executive Producer of The Huntress (USA Networks TV series).
In 1999, Kessler partnered with Blowback Productions an award-winning TV and Documentary production company. During Kessler's tenure, the company set up and produced Thug Life in D.C.; Soldiers In The Army of God and Gladiator Days as part of the HBO America Undercover Documentary Series; as well as The Blues, a PBS seven-hour mini-series Executive Produced by Martin Scorsese, and Speak Truth To Power, a PBS special about human rights defenders starring Alec Baldwin, Sigourney Weaver, John Malkovich, and Kevin Kline.
In 2000, the company produced Twilight: Los Angeles by Anna Deavere Smith, which Kessler Executive Produced. That same year, he created Offline Releasing, a company that distributed Twilight: Los Angeles, Lies (Korea) and the Academy Award Nominated Best Foreign Film The Taste Of Others (France-Le Gout Des Autres), starring Agnes Jaoui and Jean-Pierre Bacri.
In 2001/2002, Kessler Co-Founded Offline Digital Networks, a new digital cable company that recently launched Chronicle DTV, a distinctive digital network offering a unique blend of documentary and reality programming delivered to millions of homes. The company was sold to OlympuSat /AT&T.
During that time, Kessler Executive Produced the documentary The Last Party 2000, hosted by Philip Seymour Hoffman, with appearances by Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Bill Maher, Bill Clinton, and many other celebrities. The critically acclaimed film was released theatrically in 2003 through Film Movement.
In 2004, Kessler Co-Founded Mobile Ready Entertainment, a publicly held development stage mobile phone content company. Mobile Ready was in the business of creating, marketing and delivering media rich branded content for the emerging wireless lifestyle market. His efforts led to the acquisition of the company in August 2005.
Later 2005, Kessler Co-Founded and was President and Treasurer of The Motion Picture Group Inc.which was a publicly held production finance and services company. Motion Picture Group's first film was the feature documentary I Trust You To Kill Me, starring Kiefer Sutherland. Their second feature film was Hounddog, starring Dakota Fanning, Robin Wright-Penn, David Morse and Piper Laurie. Hounddog was selected for the Dramatic Competition at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Kessler resigned in September of 2007 to pursue other opportunities.
In 2007 - 2017, Kessler then went on to partner with Robert Evans and head up the feature film production and television development divisions at the Robert Evans Company, located on the Paramount Pictures Studio lot in Los Angeles.
Over the years, under Kessler's leadership and management, he has produced and/or developed over 25 titles that received the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, Cannes Camera d'Or and Prix du Public, IFP Gotham Award, a nomination for an IFP Independent Spirit Award and a nomination for a Best Foreign Film Academy Award.
Kessler is a Strategic Advisor to FilmHedge, Click-Button Media Finance. They are a fin-tech platform for creatives sourcing capital in Film, TV and Media with 30+ years experience in film production, tech entrepreneurship and capital markets.
Henri M. Kessler now represents the Global Capital Group and the National Hospitality Group at Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services Company offering brokerage, investment sales, financing, research & advisory services. Kessler leverages M&M's North American platform to attract a Global client pool including Pan-Asian & European Family Offices and Institutions. He has identified scores of real estate opportunities throughout New York City and North America in purpose built Film & TV Soundstages, Hotels, Multifamily and Mixed-Use assets. We have transacted with leading American and International Investors and Developers providing Investment Sales, 1031 Exchange and Financing Services.
From 1996-2002, as CEO and Co-Founder of the film and television production company Offline Entertainment Group, Mr. Kessler Produced Slam (1998 Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner; 1998 Cannes Camera d'Or winner). He also Executive Produced the Slam Soundtrack for Immortal/Epic Records and Co-published the Slam Book with Grove.
Other credits during this time include Producer of Whiteboyz (Canal Plus/ Fox Searchlight), starring Danny Hoch, Piper Perabo, Mark Webber and Dash Mihok; Whiteboyz' Soundtrack (executive produced for TVT); Producer of Brooklyn Babylon (Studio Canal/ Artisan Entertainment), starring Tarik Trotter and the Grammy-winning band The Roots; Executive Producer of Backroads (Official Selection at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival); and Co-Executive Producer of The Huntress (USA Networks TV series).
In 1999, Kessler partnered with Blowback Productions an award-winning TV and Documentary production company. During Kessler's tenure, the company set up and produced Thug Life in D.C.; Soldiers In The Army of God and Gladiator Days as part of the HBO America Undercover Documentary Series; as well as The Blues, a PBS seven-hour mini-series Executive Produced by Martin Scorsese, and Speak Truth To Power, a PBS special about human rights defenders starring Alec Baldwin, Sigourney Weaver, John Malkovich, and Kevin Kline.
In 2000, the company produced Twilight: Los Angeles by Anna Deavere Smith, which Kessler Executive Produced. That same year, he created Offline Releasing, a company that distributed Twilight: Los Angeles, Lies (Korea) and the Academy Award Nominated Best Foreign Film The Taste Of Others (France-Le Gout Des Autres), starring Agnes Jaoui and Jean-Pierre Bacri.
In 2001/2002, Kessler Co-Founded Offline Digital Networks, a new digital cable company that recently launched Chronicle DTV, a distinctive digital network offering a unique blend of documentary and reality programming delivered to millions of homes. The company was sold to OlympuSat /AT&T.
During that time, Kessler Executive Produced the documentary The Last Party 2000, hosted by Philip Seymour Hoffman, with appearances by Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Bill Maher, Bill Clinton, and many other celebrities. The critically acclaimed film was released theatrically in 2003 through Film Movement.
In 2004, Kessler Co-Founded Mobile Ready Entertainment, a publicly held development stage mobile phone content company. Mobile Ready was in the business of creating, marketing and delivering media rich branded content for the emerging wireless lifestyle market. His efforts led to the acquisition of the company in August 2005.
Later 2005, Kessler Co-Founded and was President and Treasurer of The Motion Picture Group Inc.which was a publicly held production finance and services company. Motion Picture Group's first film was the feature documentary I Trust You To Kill Me, starring Kiefer Sutherland. Their second feature film was Hounddog, starring Dakota Fanning, Robin Wright-Penn, David Morse and Piper Laurie. Hounddog was selected for the Dramatic Competition at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Kessler resigned in September of 2007 to pursue other opportunities.
In 2007 - 2017, Kessler then went on to partner with Robert Evans and head up the feature film production and television development divisions at the Robert Evans Company, located on the Paramount Pictures Studio lot in Los Angeles.
Over the years, under Kessler's leadership and management, he has produced and/or developed over 25 titles that received the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, Cannes Camera d'Or and Prix du Public, IFP Gotham Award, a nomination for an IFP Independent Spirit Award and a nomination for a Best Foreign Film Academy Award.
Kessler is a Strategic Advisor to FilmHedge, Click-Button Media Finance. They are a fin-tech platform for creatives sourcing capital in Film, TV and Media with 30+ years experience in film production, tech entrepreneurship and capital markets.
Henri M. Kessler now represents the Global Capital Group and the National Hospitality Group at Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services Company offering brokerage, investment sales, financing, research & advisory services. Kessler leverages M&M's North American platform to attract a Global client pool including Pan-Asian & European Family Offices and Institutions. He has identified scores of real estate opportunities throughout New York City and North America in purpose built Film & TV Soundstages, Hotels, Multifamily and Mixed-Use assets. We have transacted with leading American and International Investors and Developers providing Investment Sales, 1031 Exchange and Financing Services.