Bela Bajaria Chief Content Officer at Netflix | Official website
Higher Ground, the media company founded by President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, has extended its creative partnership with Netflix. This multi-year agreement grants Netflix a first look at all Higher Ground's film and television projects.
Vinnie Malhotra, President of Higher Ground, stated: “From the beginning, Netflix has championed our projects, helping them flourish and reach millions across the world. We’re thrilled to build on our stellar creative partnership and to deliver more ambitious films and series. From gripping thrillers to heartfelt comedies and profound documentaries, we have so much that we look forward to sharing.”
Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, commented: “If there’s one thing that’s defined President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s creative ambitions since we started our partnership with Higher Ground, it is their pursuit of an exceptional story that brings the human experience to light. We are delighted to continue our relationship with Higher Ground as they continue to develop and produce more ambitious, compelling and entertaining stories.”
Higher Ground's recent projects with Netflix include "Rustin," "American Symphony," "Leave the World Behind," "Working: What We Do All Day," and "Bodkin." The feature film "Rustin" tells the story of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin and earned several nominations for Colman Domingo's performance in the titular role. "American Symphony" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a BAFTA Award for Best Documentary. The apocalyptic thriller "Leave the World Behind" climbed to fifth place on Netflix’s Most Popular Films List of all time with 121 million views within three weeks after its premiere.
Other notable works from Higher Ground include Academy Award nominee "Crip Camp," Emmy Award-winning series "Our Great National Parks," as well as titles like "Fatherhood," "Becoming," "Worth," "We the People," and hit kids' series such as "Waffles + Mochi" and "Ada Twist, Scientist." Their first film release on Netflix, "American Factory," won both an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2019 and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program.
Higher Ground has several new projects in development or production. These include adaptations of S.A. Cosby’s crime thriller novel “All the Sinners Bleed,” Ann Napolitano's family drama “Hello Beautiful,” Will Hettinger's Chicago-set crime thriller “Dyersville,” Frederick Douglass’ biography “Prophet of Freedom” directed by Regina King with a script by Kemp Powers, a romantic comedy titled “Fling” produced by Lupita Nyong’o based on J.F. Murray's novel, an unscripted series about older people finding companionship called “The Later Daters,” produced alongside behavioral scientist Logan Ury who will serve as an on-air expert.
Additionally, Higher Ground is collaborating with Words & Pictures—the team behind “The Last Dance”—and the International Olympic Committee on a documentary series following the Olympic Basketball Tournament in Paris later this year.
About Higher Ground:
Founded by President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, Higher Ground creates stories across various platforms including scripted television shows, feature films, animated series, podcasts, and digital content. The company holds exclusive first-look deals for film and television with Netflix as well as podcast deals with Audible.
For more information on Higher Ground projects visit HigherGroundMedia.com.
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