About

Founded by Emmy-winning writer, producer, and actor Lena Waithe, Hillman Grad Productions is a Los Angeles– and Chicago-based film and television production company dedicated to telling inclusive, culturally authentic stories that center underrepresented voices. Since its launch in 2015, Hillman Grad has grown into a major creative force across film, television, and streaming platforms. The company first gained widespread attention through the critically acclaimed drama series The Chi on Showtime, which explores life on Chicago’s South Side and has become one of the network’s longest-running scripted dramas. Hillman Grad continued expanding its television slate with series such as Twenties and Boomerang for BET, both highlighting contemporary Black experiences through fresh comedic and dramatic storytelling.

In film, the company produced the acclaimed social thriller Queen & Slim (2019), which became a cultural touchstone and launched Hillman Grad further into the feature film space. Its film division has since delivered award-winning and critically praised projects including A Thousand and One, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2023, and the groundbreaking documentary Kokomo City, which earned multiple festival honors for its bold storytelling and innovative filmmaking. Through its ongoing development partnerships with studios and streamers such as Netflix and Disney+, Hillman Grad continues producing a diverse slate of scripted series, films, and documentaries. With a mission rooted in equity and opportunity, the company also launched the Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab, an industry pipeline program designed to help emerging filmmakers from marginalized communities break into Hollywood. Today, Hillman Grad remains one of the most influential Black-led production companies in the industry, combining award-winning storytelling with a commitment to reshaping the future of film and television.