Michael Kuehnert Pro

Michael Kuehnert is the Co-Director and Head of Acquisitions & Business Development at Video Project, a nonprofit documentary film distributor serving independent filmmakers since 1983. Their mission is to realize the potential of documentary films to educate, inspire and compel audiences, fostering a more just and sustainable society.

Michael has overseen the significant growth of Video Project’s film library since stepping into the role of Director of Acquisitions in 2014, expanding the collection from 125 to over 330 titles, with a renewed focus on a filmmaker-first environment and creative distribution solutions. These documentaries address pressing societal issues, ensuring students, educators and communities have tools for meaningful discussions.

In 2019, Video Profit became a 501(c)3 non-profit, at which time he became Co-Director reporting to the Board Of Directors. Since then, he’s developed and managed the company’s business, and is dedicated to increasing film sales, and expanding community screenings and partnership outreach, to bring films and conversations to audiences around the world. As the Director Of Development, he’s responsible for securing funding for impact campaigns and general support. He also serves as CFO.

Michael co-created and manages Video Project’s first thematic impact campaign. The 2023-2025 Delaware Department of Education’s Film Screening Campaign to Support BIPOC Youth produced 100 community screenings and 70 speaking engagements in its first year. This groundbreaking program allows any host in Delaware to choose from films that are curated for impact, based on their community’s needs. It serves as a scalable model for future impact campaigns to inspire change and drive community engagement.

As an award-winning documentary filmmaker and commercial production company owner, he produced commercials for Fortune 500 companies, while also producing environmental documentary shorts and features, a passion that led to his role at Video Project. His work includes the documentary Save The Farm (Netflix, The Doc Channel), a feature documentary about an 11th hour tree sit to try to save the nation's largest urban farm. He co-created Shanti Generation (Netflix, GaiaTV), a yoga series featuring BIPOC youth. Michael’s story sense is informed by three semesters in UCLA screenwriting programs and several scripts, screenplay coverage consulting, co-writing and directing his feature length film Monkeyflower, and his love of film. 

His personal and professional mission is to use media as a tool for social change, transitioning from a successful career in the banking industry to pursue his passions. He enjoys hiking, swimming in the ocean, jazz music, and recently learned how to play the piano. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Jasmin.