Sony, Eleventh Hour in Deal with Tobi Olujinmi Black, Female Television Production Company

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and Eleventh Hour Films (Magpie Murders), in which SPT holds a majority stake, entered into a first-look deal with Hill 5.14 Media, a television production company directed by black woman Tobi Olujinmi.

Olujinmi, a producer and former development producer at Eleventh Hour, launched Hill 5.14 in late 2022 as a “scripted television and audio production company producing unique ‘light on the hill’ content for global audiences.”

Calling it “a home for exceptional, diverse stories” and “a destination for some of the best black British talent,” SPT said on Friday that “in its first year and a half, Hill 5.14 has established itself as an emerging creative force in the industry with a number of funded and advanced projects across UK and international networks and streaming platforms.”

The label has collaborated with authors such as Phoebe Okeowo (Power), Bella Heesom (Sex education), Victoria Asare-Archer (I miss you) and Thar Poopla (Sex education). “The company’s ambitious yet authentic approach to storytelling has attracted screen talents such as Weruche Opia (I Can Destroy You), Adelayo Adebayo (Respondent) and Adjoa Andoh (Bridgerton), who is also the host of the Hill 5.14 podcast Discover me“, said SPT.

Eleventh Hoyr will have first right to co-create and co-produce television projects within Hill 5.14, and SPT will act as distributor for these projects.

“I am incredibly excited to be working with Sony Pictures and EHF on the next phase of Hill 5.14’s journey. They are a dream team,” said Olujinmi, Founder and Executive Producer of Hill 5.14. “Their collective experience, expertise and history of delivering exceptional dramas will help build Hill 5.14 as a global production company.”

Paula Cuddy, co-CEO and chief creative officer of Eleventh Hour, and Eve Gutierrez, co-CEO and executive producer of the company, added: “From the moment we met Tobi, we loved her dynamic approach, entrepreneurship and creative sensibility. We instinctively knew she would do everything in her power as a producer to make it happen.”

Matthew Justice, Executive Vice President, Head of UK & Europe at SPT, said: “Telling stories that have the ability to open eyes, showcase talent and connect with audiences around the world is what we love about Sony Pictures, and Tobi has built a company at Hill 5.14 that has quickly become a home for great talent.”