ROBERT KESSEL

"I am a good person to bounce career trajectory advice around with—both how to get a job, how best to network and make the most of your contacts as well as a good handle on the creative/business side of the film business."

Robert Kessel is Executive Vice President of Narrative Film at Participant, the leading global media company dedicated to entertainment that stands at the intersection of art and activism, where he co-manages the development and production of narrative films.

Since joining Participant in 2013, Kessel has been integral to the production of the company’s most commercially successful films to date—Wonder and Green Book—overseeing production on both projects, and as an Executive Producer on Wonder. He was also an Executive Producer on the critically acclaimed Todd Haynes film Dark Waters, and oversaw production on Spotlight, Deepwater Horizon, Beasts of No Nation and A Most Violent Year. Kessel is an Executive Producer on the upcoming films Rob Peace and White Bird, the sequel to Wonder; he is also a Producer on the upcoming Out of My Mind.

Prior to Participant, Kessel held executive posts at Matt Tolmach Productions, Overture Films, Hart Sharp Entertainment and Miramax Films.

Kessel serves on the board of Students Run LA, a nonprofit organization that trains over 3000 at-risk kids to run the LA Marathon each year. He holds a BA in political science and film from Vassar College.

Caveats e.g. I won't read scripts, I will not accept or receive any submitted material (scripts, pitches, demos, etc.) without a submission agreement for each project submitted.