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Higher Ground Productions

From Alfawiki
Higher Ground Productions
Company typePrivate
IndustryFilm and television production
FoundedMay 2018; 8 years ago (2018-05)
FounderBarack Obama, Michelle Obama
Headquarters
United States
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Priya Swaminathan (co-leader), Tonia Davis (co-leader), Qadriyyah “Q” Shamsid-Deen (creative executive)
ProductsFilms, television series, podcasts

Higher Ground Productions, frequently referred to simply as Higher Ground, is a U.S.-based production company established in 2018 by former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.

History

The Obamas introduced Higher Ground Productions in May 2018 through a multi-year agreement with Netflix, focusing on creating both scripted and unscripted film and television content that highlights diverse perspectives in the entertainment industry. Highlighting the transformative impact of storytelling, Michelle Obama stressed its ability to inspire and expand viewpoints. In February 2019, Priya Swaminathan and Tonia Davis were named co-leaders of the company, with Qadriyyah “Q” Shamsid-Deen joining as a creative executive.

On June 6, 2019, Higher Ground entered into a collaboration with Spotify to produce exclusive podcasts, launching with The Michelle Obama Podcast on July 29, 2020.

Their inaugural film was American Factory (2019). Netflix also released Becoming, which follows Michelle Obama's book tour for her memoir. The company is developing several projects, including a feature film adaptation of Frederick Douglass's biography, a drama series set in post-World War II New York’s fashion scene, and a scripted anthology inspired by New York Times obituary columns that celebrate lesser-known extraordinary individuals.

In June 2022, Higher Ground concluded its partnership with Spotify and signed a multi-year, multi-million-dollar agreement with Audible. In March 2025, the company revealed that Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson would co-host a new podcast titled “IMO”.

Awards

In 2020, Higher Ground received an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program for American Factory.

Feature films

Release date Title Distributor Co-production with Notes Ref.
June 7, 2021 Fatherhood Netflix Columbia Pictures, Bron Creative, Temple Hill Entertainment, Free Association, Hartbeat Productions
September 3, 2021 Worth Madriver Pictures, Riverstone Pictures, Ingenious Media, Anonymous Content, Sugar 23, Royal Viking Entertainment, Stepplechase Amusements
November 3, 2023 Rustin Bold Choices Received multiple nominations including Academy Award for Best Actor, NAACP Image Awards, Golden Globe, BAFTA, Critics' Choice, and Black Reel Awards [1][2][3][4][5]
December 8, 2023 Leave the World Behind Red OM Films, Esmail Corp Nominated for AARP Movies for Grownups Awards and Set Decorators Society of America Award [1]

Television

Release date Title Notes Ref.
March 16, 2021 Waffles + Mochi A children's educational series on Netflix promoting healthy eating. Garnered numerous nominations including Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Preschool Series, as well as recognition for writing, cinematography, editing, technical arts, sound mixing/editing, and visual effects. Also received nods from the NAACP Image Award, Producers Guild of America Award, TCA Award, and Writers Guild of America Award. [6][7][8]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
July 4, 2021 We the People Awarded the Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Program and the Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Song in a TV Show/Limited Series. It also earned several nominations from the Annie Awards and the Guild of Music Supervisors Award. [6]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name[9]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
September 28, 2021 Ada Twist, Scientist STEM-focused educational series on Netflix. Winner of the 2021 Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production for Preschool and the 2022 Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Preschool Animated Series. It was also nominated for the GLAAD Media Award, multiple Children's and Family Emmy categories, NAACP Image Awards, and the TCA Award. [9][6]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name[7][8]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
April 13, 2022 Our Great National Parks Narration provided by former President Barack Obama; recipient of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator. The series was also nominated for both a Critics' Choice Documentary Award and an Emmy in cinematography. Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name[10]
May 19, 2022 The G Word with Adam Conover Serving as a sequel to Adam Ruins Everything, this show centers on the workings of the US Federal Government with host Adam Conover.
April 25, 2023 The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey Received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special. Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
May 17, 2023 Working: What We Do All Day Examines the significance of work across different careers; narrated by Barack Obama, who earned an Emmy for his narration. Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
May 9, 2024 Bodkin Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
October 9, 2024 Starting 5 Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
February 18, 2025 Court of Gold Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Template:TBA White Mountains Inspired by Barney and Betty Hill’s purported alien abduction experience. Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Template:TBA All the Sinners Bleed Television adaptation of the novel by S. A. Cosby. Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name


Documentaries

Release date Title Notes Ref.
August 21, 2019 American Factory Recipient of the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film
Winner of the Critics' Choice Documentary Award for Best Political Documentary
Honored with the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary
Awarded the Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Documentary
Earned the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature
Recognized by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary Film
Received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program
Achieved the Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary Film
Nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Documentary
Nominated by the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary
Nominated for the Critics' Choice Documentary Award for Best Documentary Feature
Nominated by the Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary Film
Nominated by the Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Documentary Film
Nominated for the Gotham Independent Film Audience Award
Nominated by the Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Documentary Film
Nominated by the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Non-Fiction Film
Nominated in the category of Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program
Nominated in the category of Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program
Nominated for the Producers Guild of America Award for Best Documentary Motion Picture
Nominated by the San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Award for Best Documentary Film
Contended for the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary
Nominated by the Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary 		Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
March 25, 2020 Crip Camp Winner of the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature
Recipient of the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award: U.S. Documentary
Academy Award nomination in Best Documentary Feature Film category
Nominations include the AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Documentary, Critics' Choice Documentary Award for Best Documentary Feature, and Critics' Choice Documentary Award for Best Director
Also nominated by the Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary Film, and in sound editing at the Golden Reel Awards
Considered at the Satellite Awards, and nominated at Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary competition
Recognized by both the Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary Film and the Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary 		Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
May 6, 2020 Becoming Earned nominations including the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Television Documentary or Special, and a nod from the Grammy Awards in Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media category
Received multiple Primetime Emmy nominations spanning Outstanding Directing and Cinematography among others 		Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
October 21, 2022 Descendant Garnered several nominations across prestigious awards such as the Black Reel Awards, Chicago Film Critics Association, and Critics' Choice Documentary Awards, as well as honors from the NAACP Image Awards and Producers Guild of America Awards. Additionally recognized at Sundance and various regional critics groups. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
November 29, 2023 American Symphony Accolades include wins from the Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association, multiple Grammy Awards including categories like Best Music Film and Song Written for Visual Media, plus a Producers Guild of America award. The film has also been nominated across top-tier honors such as the Academy Awards, BAFTA, and numerous critics circles. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content

Podcasts

Launch Date Podcast Title Details
July 29, 2020 (debut) The Michelle Obama Podcast Created exclusively in partnership with Spotify.
February 22, 2021 (debut) Renegades: Born in the USA Developed solely for Spotify.
January 12, 2022 (season start) The Big Hit Show: Twilight Exclusively produced with Spotify.
February 9, 2022 (season start) The Big Hit Show: To Pimp a Butterfly Created exclusively for Spotify.
December 12, 2024 The Wonder of Stevie Produced in collaboration with Pineapple Street Productions.
September 18, 2025 Fela Kuti: Fear No Man
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named AARP
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named OSCARS
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named NAACP
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named BAFTA
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named BLACKREEL
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named EMMYS2022
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named EMMYS2023
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named NAACP2022
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ANNIE2022
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Davis
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