Higher Ground Productions, founded by Barack and Michelle Obama, has named Anikah McLaren as its new Head of Film. McLaren transitions from her role as Executive Vice President of Narrative Film at Participant, where she co-led the department for over five years. In her new position, she will oversee the scripted film division at Higher Ground, reporting directly to President Vinnie Malhotra.

McLaren joins a strong leadership team at Higher Ground, including Jessie Dicovitsky, Head of Television, and Ethan Lewis, who oversees unscripted and non-fiction content. She will be based in Los Angeles and will have Mark Wright, the VP of Film, reporting to her.

Malhotra praised McLaren’s experience, stating, “Anikah has a proven track record of bringing bold, cinematic visions to life. Her expertise and commitment to filmmakers are invaluable, and we’re excited to have her lead our expanding film slate at Higher Ground.”

Expressing her enthusiasm for the new role, McLaren said, “It’s an honor to join the Obamas and the talented team at Higher Ground. I look forward to collaborating with some of the world’s best filmmakers to create films that resonate with wide audiences and leave a lasting cultural impact.”

During her tenure at Participant, McLaren was instrumental in producing notable films such as "Shirley," a biopic on Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm starring Regina King, "Judas and the Black Messiah," and "We Grown Now." Before Participant, McLaren held key positions at Universal and Fox Searchlight Pictures, where she worked on a range of successful projects, including "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," "The Bourne Legacy," and "The Old Man and the Gun."

McLaren is an active member of the Executive Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and began her career with assistant roles at Miramax Films and Focus Features. She holds a BA in English from George Washington University.

Since its inception in 2018, Higher Ground Productions has quickly gained recognition for its critically acclaimed and commercially successful projects. The company’s first release, "American Factory," won an Academy Award and an Emmy. Recently, Higher Ground produced "Leave the World Behind," a Netflix thriller that became one of the platform’s most popular English-language films.

Higher Ground continues to produce content exclusively for Netflix, with upcoming projects including the crime thriller "Dyersville," the rom-com "Fling" starring Lupita Nyong’o, and a feature adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography "Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom."