Higher Ground Productions facts for kids
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| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 2018 |
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Higher Ground Productions, also known simply as Higher Ground, is an American company that makes movies, TV shows, and podcasts. It was started in 2018 by former United States President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. They created the company to share inspiring stories and give a voice to many different people in entertainment.
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Company History
In May 2018, the Obamas started Higher Ground Productions. They signed a big deal with Netflix to create movies and TV shows. Their main goal was to tell stories that inspire people and show different viewpoints. Michelle Obama once said she believed in "the power of storytelling to inspire us."
Later, in June 2019, Higher Ground also partnered with Spotify to make podcasts. The first podcast they released was The Michelle Obama Podcast in July 2020.
The company's first film was American Factory, which came out in 2019. They also made Becoming, a documentary about Michelle Obama's book tour.
In June 2022, Higher Ground changed its podcast partner from Spotify to Audible. They continue to develop many new projects, including films and TV series.
Awards and Recognition
Higher Ground Productions has won several important awards for its work. In 2020, their film American Factory won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. This is one of the highest honors in filmmaking. It also won a Primetime Emmy Award for its directing.
Barack Obama also won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Narrator. He won for his narration in Our Great National Parks (2022) and Working: What We Do All Day (2023).
Productions
Higher Ground has produced many different types of content, including feature films, television series, and documentaries.
Feature Films
| Release date | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| June 7, 2021 | Fatherhood | A drama film. |
| September 3, 2021 | Worth | A drama based on true events. |
| November 3, 2023 | Rustin | A biographical drama about civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. It received several award nominations. |
| December 8, 2023 | Leave the World Behind | A thriller film. |
Television Series
| Release date | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| March 16, 2021 | Waffles + Mochi | An educational Netflix series for kids about healthy eating. It was nominated for several Children's and Family Emmy Awards. |
| July 4, 2021 | We the People | An animated series that teaches about civics and government through music. It won a Children's and Family Emmy Award. |
| September 28, 2021 | Ada Twist, Scientist | An educational Netflix series for kids focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). It won an Annie Award and a Children's and Family Emmy Award. |
| April 13, 2022 | Our Great National Parks | A nature documentary series narrated by Barack Obama, exploring national parks around the world. Barack Obama won an Emmy for his narration. |
| May 19, 2022 | The G Word with Adam Conover | A series that explores how the U.S. Federal Government works. |
| April 25, 2023 | The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey | A special featuring Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey. |
| May 17, 2023 | Working: What We Do All Day | A documentary series narrated by Barack Obama, showing how people find meaning in their jobs. Barack Obama won an Emmy for his narration. |
| May 9, 2024 | Bodkin | A dark comedy thriller series. |
| TBA | White Mountains | A series reportedly based on a famous story about an alleged alien abduction. |
Documentaries
| Release date | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| August 21, 2019 | American Factory | This film won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and a Primetime Emmy Award. It explores a Chinese company opening a factory in Ohio. |
| March 25, 2020 | Crip Camp | A documentary about a summer camp that helped spark the disability rights movement. It was nominated for an Academy Award. |
| May 6, 2020 | Becoming | A documentary following Michelle Obama during her book tour for her memoir. |
| October 21, 2022 | Descendant | A film about the descendants of the last known slave ship to arrive in the United States. |
| November 29, 2023 | American Symphony | A documentary about musician Jon Batiste. It won several awards and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. |
