Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor/Tom Hawkins

Source: Joi Productions/Ringside

Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, Tom Hawkins

Ringside Studios, the London-based outfit backed by European media company and distributor Newen Studios, has acquired a minority stake via its investment arm Ringside Media in UK production outfit Joi Productions.

Joi Productions was founded by 2020 Screen Star of Tomorrow Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, who also received a BFI Vision award in 2020. Her production credits include Rapman’s Blue Story and Aml Ameen’s Boxing Day. She is  producing TV series Champion for the BBC, written by Queenie author Candice Carty-Williams.

Tom Hawkins, head of development at Wildgaze, will join Joi Productions. 

Ringside Media was established in 2020 as part of Paris-based parent company Newen Studios’ strategy to expand into the English-speaking scripted market and to strengthen its ties to production activity generated out of the UK.

Ringside Media announced investments in Fictionhouse, Slate Entertainment and Further South Productions in 2021 and B Side Film and TV in 2022.