Higher Ground Productions, also known simply as Higher Ground, is an American production company which was founded in 2018 by former United States president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama.
History In May 2018, the Obamas launched Higher Ground Productions by signing a multi-year deal with Netflix to produce scripted and unscripted film and television projects, with the goal of the company to lift up diverse voices in the entertainment industry. Michelle Obama stated "I have always believed in the power of storytelling to inspire us, to make us think differently about the world around us, and to help us open our minds and hearts to others." In February 2019, Priya Swaminathan, Tonia Davis, and Qadriyyah “Q” Shamsid-Deen joined the company, with Swaminathan and Davis serving as co-heads and Shamsid-Deen serving as a creative executive.
On June 6, 2019, Spotify announced a partnership with Higher Ground to produce Spotify-exclusive podcasts. The first podcast of the partnership, The Michelle Obama Podcast, premiered on July 29, 2020.
The company's first film was American Factory, released in 2019. Netflix released Becoming a documentary following Michelle Obama on her book tour promoting her memoir of the same name.
Higher Ground has multiple projects in development, including a feature film adaptation of Frederick Douglass's biography, a drama series set in the fashion scene of post-WWII New York City, and a scripted anthology series of the New York Times obituary column highlighting deaths of remarkable people not reported.
In June 2022, it was announced that Higher Ground would be ending its partnership with Spotify, as it signed a multi-year, multi-million-dollar deal with Audible.
In March 2025, the company announced that Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson would launch a podcast called “IMO”.
Following over 20 projects for Netflix, the company announced, in April 2026, that it would transition into an independent production company, to work with multiple studios, including Netflix.
Awards In 2020, the company won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program for American Factory.
Productions 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 and Hartbeat Productions September 3, 2021 Worth Madriver Pictures, Riverstone Pictures, Ingenious Media, Anonymous Content, Sugar 23, Royal Viking Entertainment and Stepplechase Amusements November 3, 2023 Rustin Bold Choices AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Actor NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor Nominated—AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Ensemble Nominated—AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Time Capsule Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Film Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Lead Performance Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Screenplay Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Ensemble Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Costume Design Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Hairstyling & Makeup Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Original Score Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Original Song Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Original Soundtrack Nominated—Black Reel Award for Outstanding Production Design Nominated—Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actor Nominated—Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Song Nominated—Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song Nominated—Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Score in a Feature Film Nominated—Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Song in a Feature Film Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated—San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Original Song Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Nominated—Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated—World Soundtrack Award for Best Original Song December 8, 2023 Leave the World Behind Red OM Films and Esmail Corp Nominated—AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Actress Nominated—AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Intergenerational Film Nominated—Set Decorators Society of America Award for Best Achievement in Decor/Design of a Contemporary Feature Film
Television Release date Title Notes Ref. March 16, 2021 Waffles + Mochi An educational Netflix original series for kids; centered on healthy eating. Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Preschool Series Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Live Action Preschool or Children's Program Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Live Action Single-Camera Program Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Editing for a Single Camera Program Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Lighting, Camera and Technical Arts Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for a Live Action Program Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Visual Effects for a Live Action Program Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Children's Program Nominated—Producers Guild of America Award for Outstanding Children's Program Nominated—TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming Nominated—Writers Guild of America Award for Children's Script – Episodic, Long form and Specials July 4, 2021 We the People Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Program Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Song in a TV Show/Limited Series Nominated—Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production for Children Nominated—Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production Nominated—Guild of Music Supervisors Award for Best Song Written and/or Recorded for Television September 28, 2021 Ada Twist, Scientist An educational Netflix original series for kids; centered on science, technology, engineering and math. Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production for Preschool Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Preschool Animated Series GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Children's Programming Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Preschool Animated Series Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Preschool Animated Program Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Preschool Animated Program Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Editing for a Preschool Animated Program Nominated—Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice Directing for an Animated Series Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Children's Program Nominated—TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming April 13, 2022 Our Great National Parks Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator – Barack Obama Nominated—Critics' Choice Documentary Award for Best Narration – Barack Obama Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program May 19, 2022 The G Word with Adam Conover A spiritual successor to Adam Ruins Everything with a focus on the US Federal Government starring Adam Conover. April 25, 2023 The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special May 17, 2023 Working: What We Do All Day How people find meaning and connection through work, sharing experiences and struggles; former President Barack Obama visits people in their homes and workplaces, following them at all levels, from service jobs to the executive suite. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator – Barack Obama May 9, 2024 Bodkin October 9, 2024 Starting 5 November 20, 2024 Our Oceans The planet's life-blood, oceans, hide countless mysteries - from balmy Indian waters and fiery Atlantic depths to the Ring of Fire-encircled Pacific and frigid Southern and Arctic seas. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator – Barack Obama February 18, 2025 Court of Gold June 26, 2026 Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness White Mountains Reportedly based on the story of Barney and Betty Hill who claimed they were abducted by extraterrestrials. All the Sinners Bleed Based on the novel by S. A. Cosby Journey
Documentaries