25 Stories was established in fall 2021 by writing partners Jenny Lumet and Alex Kurtzman. The company is a production entity within CBS Studios and is overseen by Bruce Evans, a veteran television executive, who formerly headed up NBC’s Current Programming Department. In speaking about the creation of the company, Jenny shared, “25 Stories began in my kitchen during a marathon screenwriting weekend for about 25 women of color, all extraordinary writers of color. I knew I wanted to bring prestige television by writers of color to the marketplace, and I began to think about how to create a space where marginalized voices are centered. A space where both seasoned and newer voices have room to breathe.”
From this ambitious goal, we crafted the following mission statement for the company:
25 Stories produces prestige, culturally specific film and television that doesn’t get lost in the cultural specifics. We produce content that authentically portrays the daily lives and experiences of people of color. In collaboration with talented BIPOC creators, we focus on character-driven stories that engage, provoke, and intrigue our viewers. Our projects are emotionally resonant and seek to uplift our audience with stories that reflect them by showcasing our common humanity.
25 Stories has produced two films and a documentary. The first film produced was ROB PEACE, written, directed and starring Oscar-nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor. Based on Jeff Hobbs’ best-selling work of non-fiction, Ejiofor’s thoughtful adaptation examines Peace’s (Jay Will) struggle to reconcile his academic ambitions with mounting economic and familial pressures. Although Peace’s talents are nurtured from childhood by his devoted mother (Mary J. Blige), he lives in the shadow of his father (Ejiofor) who is imprisoned for an ambiguous double murder. Peace lives a divided life, tenaciously studying in a Yale University research lab while secretly raising cash through illicit means for his dad’s defense. Camila Cabello also stars as Rob’s girlfriend and moral compass while at Yale. Rob Peace has its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival 2024. The film was released in 500 theaters by Republic Pictures in August of 2024 and is now available to stream on Netflix, where it is a top 10 film in the United States.
LIFT is an Emmy-nominated, Tribeca award-winning documentary that chronicles international ballet star Steven Melendez’s journey from homelessness to becoming Artistic Director of the New York Theatre Ballet, and his efforts to provide opportunities for others who share his same challenging upbringing. Steven and Jenny have a long history as she, in her early professional life, was his middle school Shakespeare teacher. This relationship led to 25 Stories becoming a producer of this well received documentary, which is now available to stream on Peacock.
The documentary’s hopeful and inspiring story motivated Jenny and Alex to collaborate on a feature film adaptation, which is currently in development at Republic Pictures.
25 Stories also has several television projects currently in development, including the American adaptation of the Norwegian series PØRNI – a highly resonant, often humorous story of a single mother trying to be all things to everyone within her family, at the expense of doing little to nothing for herself. The 3-season hit Norwegian series will be adapted by Jenny and will feature a woman of color at its center. Keshet Studios is a producing partner on the project.
25 Stories was established in fall 2021 by writing partners Jenny Lumet and Alex Kurtzman. The company is a production entity within CBS Studios and is overseen by Bruce Evans, a veteran television executive, who formerly headed up NBC’s Current Programming Department. In speaking about the creation of the company, Jenny shared, “25 Stories began in my kitchen during a marathon screenwriting weekend for about 25 women of color, all extraordinary writers of color. I knew I wanted to bring prestige television by writers of color to the marketplace, and I began to think about how to create a space where marginalized voices are centered. A space where both seasoned and newer voices have room to breathe.”
From this ambitious goal, we crafted the following mission statement for the company:
25 Stories produces prestige, culturally specific film and television that doesn’t get lost in the cultural specifics. We produce content that authentically portrays the daily lives and experiences of people of color. In collaboration with talented BIPOC creators, we focus on character-driven stories that engage, provoke, and intrigue our viewers. Our projects are emotionally resonant and seek to uplift our audience with stories that reflect them by showcasing our common humanity.
25 Stories has produced two films and a documentary. The first film produced was ROB PEACE, written, directed and starring Oscar-nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor. Based on Jeff Hobbs’ best-selling work of non-fiction, Ejiofor’s thoughtful adaptation examines Peace’s (Jay Will) struggle to reconcile his academic ambitions with mounting economic and familial pressures. Although Peace’s talents are nurtured from childhood by his devoted mother (Mary J. Blige), he lives in the shadow of his father (Ejiofor) who is imprisoned for an ambiguous double murder. Peace lives a divided life, tenaciously studying in a Yale University research lab while secretly raising cash through illicit means for his dad’s defense. Camila Cabello also stars as Rob’s girlfriend and moral compass while at Yale. Rob Peace has its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival 2024. The film was released in 500 theaters by Republic Pictures in August of 2024 and is now available to stream on Netflix, where it is a top 10 film in the United States.
LIFT is an Emmy-nominated, Tribeca award-winning documentary that chronicles international ballet star Steven Melendez’s journey from homelessness to becoming Artistic Director of the New York Theatre Ballet, and his efforts to provide opportunities for others who share his same challenging upbringing. Steven and Jenny have a long history as she, in her early professional life, was his middle school Shakespeare teacher. This relationship led to 25 Stories becoming a producer of this well received documentary, which is now available to stream on Peacock.
The documentary’s hopeful and inspiring story motivated Jenny and Alex to collaborate on a feature film adaptation, which is currently in development at Republic Pictures.
25 Stories also has several television projects currently in development, including the American adaptation of the Norwegian series PØRNI – a highly resonant, often humorous story of a single mother trying to be all things to everyone within her family, at the expense of doing little to nothing for herself. The 3-season hit Norwegian series will be adapted by Jenny and will feature a woman of color at its center. Keshet Studios is a producing partner on the project.
25 Stories was established in fall 2021 by writing partners Jenny Lumet and Alex Kurtzman. The company is a production entity within CBS Studios and is overseen by Bruce Evans, a veteran television executive, who formerly headed up NBC’s Current Programming Department. In speaking about the creation of the company, Jenny shared, “25 Stories began in my kitchen during a marathon screenwriting weekend for about 25 women of color, all extraordinary writers of color. I knew I wanted to bring prestige television by writers of color to the marketplace, and I began to think about how to create a space where marginalized voices are centered. A space where both seasoned and newer voices have room to breathe.”
From this ambitious goal, we crafted the following mission statement for the company:
25 Stories produces prestige, culturally specific film and television that doesn’t get lost in the cultural specifics. We produce content that authentically portrays the daily lives and experiences of people of color. In collaboration with talented BIPOC creators, we focus on character-driven stories that engage, provoke, and intrigue our viewers. Our projects are emotionally resonant and seek to uplift our audience with stories that reflect them by showcasing our common humanity.
25 Stories has produced two films and a documentary. The first film produced was ROB PEACE, written, directed and starring Oscar-nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor. Based on Jeff Hobbs’ best-selling work of non-fiction, Ejiofor’s thoughtful adaptation examines Peace’s (Jay Will) struggle to reconcile his academic ambitions with mounting economic and familial pressures. Although Peace’s talents are nurtured from childhood by his devoted mother (Mary J. Blige), he lives in the shadow of his father (Ejiofor) who is imprisoned for an ambiguous double murder. Peace lives a divided life, tenaciously studying in a Yale University research lab while secretly raising cash through illicit means for his dad’s defense. Camila Cabello also stars as Rob’s girlfriend and moral compass while at Yale. Rob Peace has its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival 2024. The film was released in 500 theaters by Republic Pictures in August of 2024 and is now available to stream on Netflix, where it is a top 10 film in the United States.
LIFT is an Emmy-nominated, Tribeca award-winning documentary that chronicles international ballet star Steven Melendez’s journey from homelessness to becoming Artistic Director of the New York Theatre Ballet, and his efforts to provide opportunities for others who share his same challenging upbringing. Steven and Jenny have a long history as she, in her early professional life, was his middle school Shakespeare teacher. This relationship led to 25 Stories becoming a producer of this well received documentary, which is now available to stream on Peacock.
The documentary’s hopeful and inspiring story motivated Jenny and Alex to collaborate on a feature film adaptation, which is currently in development at Republic Pictures.
25 Stories also has several television projects currently in development, including the American adaptation of the Norwegian series PØRNI – a highly resonant, often humorous story of a single mother trying to be all things to everyone within her family, at the expense of doing little to nothing for herself. The 3-season hit Norwegian series will be adapted by Jenny and will feature a woman of color at its center. Keshet Studios is a producing partner on the project.