Tessa Films

Tessa Films At Tessa, we bring exciting ideas to life for agencies, brands, and entertainment channels.

04/29/2026

La enfermedad renal no afecta a todas las comunidades por igual; por eso produjimos un PSA en español para nuestra campaña “¡DONANTE EN VIDA!”. La directora Melissa Silverman se asoció con el director Matías Nilsson en “Café”, protagonizado por Maribel Costell, quien se convirtió en una donante en vida para darle a su papá más tiempo, más recuerdos y una segunda oportunidad de vida. Además, tiene un timing cómico impecable, lo que ayuda a abrir una conversación seria y que salva vidas con un tipo de humor que acerca al público y a potenciales donantes a la mesa. // 💕

Kidney disease doesn’t impact all communities equally; that’s why we produced a Spanish-language PSA for our “LIVING DONOR!” campaign. Director Melissa Silverman partnered with Director Matías Nilsson on “Cafe,” starring Maribel Costell, who became a living donor to give her dad more time, more memories, and a second chance at life. She also has impeccable comedic timing, which helps open up a serious, life-saving conversation with the kind of humor that brings audiences and potential donors to a seat at the table.

Protagonizada por: Maribel Costell
También protagonizada por: Adriana Santos

Director de “Cafe” (Spanish Version) – Matias Nilsson
Creadora – Melissa Silverman

Productora – Tessa Films
Productora Ejecutiva – Lisa Masseur
Campaign Writer – Shawn Dempewolff
Adaptación and Traducción "Cafe" (Spanish) – Daniel Gonzalez
Productora – Alana (Mitnick) Ficalora

Director de Fotografía – Colin Arndt
Casting – Reaction Casting, James Levine
Diseñador de Producción – Philip Salick
Supervisor de Producción – Jackie Schroeder

Postproducción
Editorial – Cosmo Street

Motion Design, Color y Finalización – Alter Ego

Postproducción de Audio – Lime Studios

+ Credits continued in comments.

04/28/2026

We’re flipping out over this Dairy Queen x Savannah Bananas spot — and somehow… the Blizzard doesn’t budge. Take a look at how Tessa Films teamed up with director John Suits to craft this sweet take on summer baseball ☀️

04/14/2026

“Dude, you have words in your yard.”

Sometimes the best way to start a life-saving conversation…is with a little humor. This next installment of the “LIVING DONOR!” PSA campaign features David Pray, a real living donor in an everyday situation that becomes a little out of the ordinary.
Incredible performances, real, life-saving action. Like David, who donated his kidney to a stranger.

Starring: David Pray
Also starring: Jalen Ka’ohulani Lum
Voiceover talent: Christian Lanz
Production Company: Tessa Films
Director: Melissa Silverman
EP: Lisa Masseur
Writer: Shawn Dempewolff
Producer: Alana Ficalora
DP: Colin Arndt
Casting Director: ReAction Casting
Production Designer: Philip Salick
Editorial: Cosmo Street Editorial
Motion Design, Color & Finish: alter ego
Audio Post: LIME STUDIOS

+ Credits continued in comments.

What do Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, and Smartphone Free Childhood US have in common? We've all been nominated for a Webby A...
04/09/2026

What do Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, and Smartphone Free Childhood US have in common? We've all been nominated for a Webby Award!!! And we need your help! Voting is open till 4/16 for the People's Voice Award in the Public Service, Social Impact and Activism category.

The more attention we can bring to this issue, the more parents can know they're not alone in battling smartphone use. Please take a moment and vote for our "Let's Change the Norm" PSA.

Apologies, it takes several steps but we’d appreciate if you can take the time. We’re in 2nd place, help us get the #1 spot!
Link to vote: https://wbby.co/59010N

04/07/2026

The “LIVING DONOR!” PSA campaign goes beyond awareness. It shares the real stories of people who stepped forward.

💚This is Kimleigh’s story.

Kimleigh gave her cousin the gift of life by donating a kidney, an experience that forever transformed her. This is just one story from our “LIVING DONOR!” PSA campaign directed by Melissa Silverman, who suffers from chronic kidney disease herself. The campaign shines a light on the power of living kidney donation, starring actual living kidney donors. This behind-the-scenes story was directed by Logan Hall.

Director/DP: Logan Hall
Editor: Isabella Siska
Producer: Alana Ficalora
Production Company: Tessa Films

04/01/2026

Today, we’re proud to share the first spot from our “LIVING DONOR!” PSA campaign for the National Kidney Foundation with an honest, human and funny — yes, funny — take on a serious issue. Produced by Tessa Films and Directed by Melissa Silverman, who suffers from chronic kidney disease herself, the campaign shines a light on the power of living kidney donation, starring actual living kidney donors. Special thanks to the crew and our creative partners including Cosmo Street Editorial, LIME STUDIOS, alter ego, writer Shawn Dempewolff, and Producer Alana Ficalora. You are all heroes.

Living donors don’t just shorten wait times, they give someone a second chance at life. And that is no joke. Although today is April Fools' Day, it also happens to be Donate Life America Living Donor Day! Starring Kimleigh Smith, who donated her kidney to her cousin.

Want to be an everyday hero? Share this message and then find out more about how you can become a living donor here: https://www.kidney.org/ivingdonor

Credits continued in comments.

02/09/2026

Which Super Bowl spots did you love? Which did you not love? Let’s hear what the pros had to say! We were thrilled to have Director Tim Mason of the Tessa

09/23/2025

“Normal” smartphone use among increasingly younger kids took hold so quickly that no one stopped to ask what we were letting them access. Director and writer Tim Mason used his storytelling skills to bring this to life, and we partnered with Smartphone Free Childhood US to help spark a conversation about changing the norm.

Let’s change the norm together! Visit www.smartphonefreechildhoodus.com to learn more.

01/28/2025

When we began our work with and .films on the “HIV and the Journey Toward Zero” docuseries, we couldn’t have imagined how much we’d learn together.

Helping promote the series, which focuses on the HIV epidemic through a uniquely Chicago lens, challenged us to capture human authenticity, vibrance and vulnerability. We’re proud to have been part of the films’ launch and legacy.

Check out the 🔗 in bio for our updated case study to learn more.

And visit journeytowardzero.com to stream all three installments. 🎥

Another successful AICP Chicago event in the books. Thank you AICP Midwest for a fabulous evening!
12/03/2024

Another successful AICP Chicago event in the books. Thank you AICP Midwest for a fabulous evening!

Address

Chicago, IL

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tessa Films posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share