What We Do

Karis Features is a non-profit media production company that educates and empowers people through creative storytelling and connection. Our work unites the viewing audience with the inborn, yet forgotten, awareness that our experience on this planet is dependent on our own thoughts and beliefs. If we wish to see change then we must start at the source.

We are one of the very first production companies to offer a non-profit, volunteer-based, socially responsible, multimedia service. The directors of Karis Features are constantly looking to the future and planning our next project to educate the world about incredibly poignant and important stories. The company was formed around the truth represented by this quote from a Shinto Priest, “We don’t have an ideology; we don’t have a theology. We dance."

Our Leadership Team

ROBERT HESS - Executive Director | The founder and director of Karis Features, Inc., Robert Hess has made it his mission in life to explore, document, and reveal the incredible nature of our human condition. He is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design’s world-renowned film program with an emphasis in Documentary Filmmaking and holds two graduate certifications, one in Multimedia Arts from California State University and the other in Media Marketing from The University of Pennsylvania. Robert began Karis Features as a vehicle for producing meaningful forms of charitable and non-profit media. He is the director of four full-length documentary films that explore subjects ranging from “the healing power of community” to “Homosexuality in the Bible”. His most recent film, Sustaining Life, about our generation’s unique opportunity to end extreme poverty, was nominated for an Academy Award by the Academy for Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the Student Documentary category. The film was also given great reviews by Oprah Winfrey for selection in the OWN Documentary Club. Robert currently lives in Orlando, FL and produces the video content  for the social and emotional character development program, Conscious Discipline.

ADAM FRENCH - Board Member | Adam French is a graduate of Syracuse University’s prestigious College of Visual and Performing Arts with an emphasis on filmmaking. In addition to being one of the founding members of Karis Features, Adam has been working in collaboration with the organization for many years. He has many excellent films to his credit and is also an accomplished illustrator and painter. Adam just recently finished the design of a new website based off of the initiative to educate the public on the devastating plight of our worlds Oceans. His passion for humanity and education is a valued asset in our organization.

LINDSAY GRAHAM - Board Member | Lindsay Graham is an independent film producer/director who simplifies complex theories and problems into simple visual analogies. She believes in art that speaks from and for the world. Lindsay’s work ranges from short commercials to medium length documentaries. She works in film, television, and stop- motion animation. Lindsay is currently wrapping a promotional documentary for Benedetto Guitars, and she is in production on a short film titled, Beautiful Struggle.

JEAN BARRUS - Board Member | Jean Hess is a graduate from Florida State University with a Masters Degree in Social Work, Jean has devoted her life to helping people. She was one of the youngest Executive Directors ever to head the District 3 Mental Health Board. Currently Jean serves as the practice manager for Winter Park Veterinary Hospital where she uses her keen intuition to balance the many roles of her multi-faceted job.

KEN DANIEL - Honorary Board Member | Ken Daniel has been in television production and non-fiction filmmaking for thirty-one years. He began his career as a cameraman, and over the years has worked as a production crew chief, associate director, associate producer, director, producer, and for many years, as Executive Producer for Local Production at Georgia Public Television. Because of his love of the outdoors, Ken created and produced for ten years the popular series, “Georgia Outdoors.” Mr. Daniel has served as a NATAS (National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences) board member for eight years, working on the Student Connection, Certification, Creating Critical Viewers, and the Programs committees. He has received six Emmy awards for his work as a television producer and director. After more than twenty-five years in public broadcasting, Mr. Daniel became the production manager for Cable Advertising of Metro Atlanta (CAMA), where he supervised a staff of producers, editors, photographers and graphic artists. In 2002, The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honored Mr. Daniel with The Silver Circle Award for twenty-five years of distinguished service to the television industry. He is currently fulfilling a life-long dream by teaching filmmaking at The Savannah College of Art and Design.

501(c)3 Organization Information

Our Tax EIN is: 26-2005348