Rachel Kessler
Directing
Known For

Abby is a sought after massage therapist and a free spirit, while her brother Paul thrives on routine, running a failing dental practice with his assistant and daughter Jenny. Suddenly, Abby develops an aversion to bodily contact, which not only makes her unable to do her job, but also severely affects her relationship with her boyfriend. As Abby navigates her way through an identity crisis, her brother's dental practice receives new life when clients seek out his “healing touch.”
Touchy Feely

In light of recent events, a young man must take action to protect his little sister from a tragic truth.
Cornflower

Backpacking alone on the Appalachian trail, a married woman meets a younger hiker and the two strangers become inexplicably drawn to one another.
Maine

Recently released from prison, Beth is working with her public defender to get her son back from her sister, who was awarded legal custody while Beth was incarcerated for ten years. Soon after, Beth forms an unlikely alliance with Jess, an idealistic young protégé of the public defense team, who decides to take on Beth's cause whether she likes it or not.
Who We Are Now

After a stressful workday, Deborah settles in for some intimate “me time" at home, until three other aspects of her psyche appear, dredge up deep-seated inhibitions, and threaten to derail her plan.
Me Time

A beautiful actress struggles to connect with her disfigured co-star on the set of a European auteur's English-language debut.
Chained for Life

What we present to the world is a carefully curated version of reality. Girls Will Be is a powerful visual meditation on this topic, exploring the all too au courant themes of image obsession, social pressure, and shame. This "anti-fashion" fashion film eschews traditional narrative structure, instead presenting viewers with a dreamy tableau that viscerally juxtaposes the "perfect" images rampant on social media with the grotesque reality that often lurks beneath these lovely facades. In Girls Will Be, viewers get an uncomfortably firsthand close-up of the loss of innocence of a teen girl as her desire to be accepted by peers—and by extension society— makes her vulnerable to their perversely warped value system.
Girls Will Be

Under the shadowy threat of war, a young Ukrainian girl awaits a call from her father. As she waits, the day turns into night and she sinks into various dreamscapes from which she must find her way home.
Sunflower Field

Two national park rangers with differing views on the unknown must put aside their differences when faced with an unexpected encounter in the dead of night.
The Field Guide to North American Cryptids

Go behind the scenes of two-time Grammy nominated jazz singer René Marie’s life that gave her tone and tenor.