Ringside Media, the investment arm of Newen-backed indie Ringside Studios, and Joi Productions have announced Ringside’s fifth major investment as it acquires a minority stake in Joi Productions.

Joi Productions, was founded by Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, and in 2020 received a BFI Vision award. Gharoro-Akpojotor herself has been chosen as a Screen International Star of Tomorrow, and a BAFTA Breakthrough Nominee, and has had breakout hits producing Rapman’s Blue Story and Boxing Day. She is currently producing Champion for the BBC, written by Candice Carty-Williams (Queenie). Gharoro-Akpojotor brings her unique voice and perspective to Joi Productions, which is a company focusing on Black, Queer and Female-led stories. Joining Joy is Wildgaze’s Head of Development, Tom Hawkins.

Hawkins said: “I’m super excited to be joining Joi Productions and working with Joy on growing her bold and distinctive slate. Joy has proven herself to an exciting and dynamic producer. And it’s great to be joining the company at such a pivotal moment. We share an ambition to bring subversive, often marginalized, stories to the screen with a playful wit and sense of humour”

Gharoro-Akpojotor said: “I’m thrilled to be part of the Ringside family. This is a great opportunity for Joi Productions to expand and focus on the type of content and talent that we’re currently missing in mainstream media, and to do it with partners who believe in us makes the journey even more exciting.”

Both Ringside Media and Ringside Studios were founded by leading British producer and former commissioner Gub Neal (Liaison, The Fall, Queer as Folk) and European media company and distributor Newen.

Kate Bennetts, Ringside’s Managing Director, said: “Joi has a completely unique voice in the industry, and epitomises the multi-hyphenated individuals who are driving the most interesting content being produced right now. We are excited to see how her formidable talent continues to grow and develop with the support of a company infrastructure behind her’.

Philippe Levasseur, Newen’s Head of International, said “We at Newen are passionate about the next generation of talent emerging, and are delighted that the hugely talented and ambitious Joy Gharoro Akpojotor has joined us”.

Ringside Media was established in 2020 as part of parent company Newen’s strategy to expand into the English-speaking scripted market and to strengthen its ties to the world class production activity currently being generated out of the UK. The boutique investment fund is making bespoke investments and partnerships with companies looking for the benefits of a larger supportive international and domestic network. The companies will all work closely with Newen Connect, Newen’s distribution arm. Ringside Media announced investments into Fictionhouse, Slate Entertainment and Further South Productions in 2021 and recently into B Side Film and TV in 2022.

Ringside were advised by the team at Lee & Thompson, and Joi by Grey Seal Media.

* Newen Studios, a subsidiary of the TF1 group, is a major fast growing European player in audiovisual production and distribution, with a multi-genre strategy (drama, film, animation, TV movie, documentary, non-scripted…). Deeply rooted in 8 countries, the group has more than 40 creative labels and a passionate overall team of 600 people each bringing their unique expertise. Shows produced by Newen Studios are exported globally alongside a curated slate of third party programming, thanks to its distribution subsidiary Newen Connect whose activities help to shine a light on European content.