Nia Hill, an award-winning entrepreneur and a University of Oklahoma alumna, has made a significant impact on the world with her exceptional talents in writing, directing, and composing. She played a crucial role in financing and producing Tyler Perry’s first musical tour, “I Know I’ve Been Changed.”
Hill’s visionary distribution model, “The Momentum Experience,” revolutionized the industry by providing artists of color with equity and control over their content across live theater, film, and television. Notable partnerships with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith led to the production of the romantic comedy “The Seat Filler,” which was later distributed through a collaboration with Mark Cuban’s Magnolia Pictures. This film achieved the highest box office average, as reported by Variety Magazine.
Throughout her illustrious career, Hill has founded successful production companies such as Strange Fruit Media and the Solstice Group. Strange Fruit Media is renowned for financing, developing, and producing acclaimed content, including BET Networks’ competition series “Sunday Best.” Hill received an NAACP Image Award and a GRAMMY Award for co-writing the hit song “Jesus,” performed by Le’Andria Johnson.
Following her Grammy win, Hill served as the Creative Director for the iconic Chaka Khan. She later collaborated with DreamWorks Entertainment and Paramount Studios to produce and direct the post-Katrina series “One Night Only: The Series,” featuring Jennifer Hudson.
Hill’s dedication to social justice is evident in her work. Her feature-length documentary “Colored My Mind” won the “Best Filmmaker” award at the Cannes’ AMPAV Film Festival in 2012, highlighting the journey of five African American women and their autistic children. This powerful documentary inspired joint lobbying efforts with the National Black Caucus of State Legislators and National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, resulting in the reauthorization of the Combating Autism Act of 2006 and a $3 billion commitment from the U.S. federal government for autism research and services.
Most recently, Hill completed the libretto for her critically acclaimed project “Nina Simone Presents: Ce’st Tout Absurde, A Coloured Ballet,” an opera commissioned by Nina Simone’s daughter, scheduled to premiere in Paris in Spring 2024. Under her Bridge X Media banner, Hill has also partnered with the estate of prolific author Octavia Butler and Academy Award-winning producer John Sloss to create “The Octaverse,” a transmedia studio.
Nia T. Hill’s business acumen, sense of social responsibility, and transcendent talent establish her as a formidable and enduring presence in the media and entertainment industry.