Phil Hessler is an accomplished executive producer, director, and the founder of WZRD Media. He began his career at the age of 19 by producing his first feature-length documentary, Far From Home, which tells the inspiring story of Uganda’s first Olympic hopeful in snowboarding. This film found distribution through Red Bull Media House and established Phil’s presence in the unscripted content space. Phil’s work aims to humanize complex issues through emotional journeys and to document unique subcultures that showcase the resilience of the human spirit. In collaboration with Boardwalk Pictures, Phil developed, directed, and produced the award-winning show Far From Home – The Series. He has also partnered with Tony Hawk to produce the Gold Telly Award-winning documentary World Debut, which explores the rise of skateboarding, surfing, and rock climbing from fringe sports to Olympic events. In 2021, Phil was nominated for a Young Directors Award at Cannes for his short film A Conversation, featuring Jimmy Chin. His extensive commercial producing and directing portfolio includes renowned brands such as VICE, The Olympic Channel, YouTube Originals, Ford, Bridgestone, Red Bull, White Claw, RTIC, REI, and many more. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Phil enjoys snowboarding in the mountains when he is not working.
