Swirl Films
Swirl Films is an Atlanta-based independent film and TV production company, founded in 2001, that produces scripted movies, biopics, documentaries, and unscripted series focused on diverse storytelling for enterprise buyers including Lifetime, BET+, Netflix, TV One, Hallmark, and Hulu; it is majority-owned by Gray Television.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersGalanta
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Swirl Films does
Swirl Films is an independent film and television production company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, founded in 2001 by Eric Tomosunas (originally based in Wilmington, North Carolina before relocating to Atlanta in 2014). The company specializes in scripted TV movies, biopics, documentaries, and unscripted series with a stated focus on diversity and inclusion in storytelling, producing content for Black American audiences through partnerships with major U.S. broadcasters, cable networks, and streaming platforms. Its catalog includes recurring and franchise properties such as the Bounce TV soap opera Saints & Sinners, the TV One docu-series UNCENSORED, and the Lifetime hit Single Black Female (2022, 8M+ viewers); it has produced 60+ scripted TV movies over a six-year period. The company also operates ATL Film Studios, an owned production facility in Atlanta, and runs the Black Life Film Festival in partnership with Mansa Productions to develop emerging Black filmmakers. The company is majority-owned by Gray Television, a publicly traded broadcast group with stations in 94 markets.
Swirl Films operates a pure B2B, project-based revenue model: it does not sell directly to consumers. Revenue is generated through content licensing and production agreements with enterprise buyers, including Lifetime (A+E Networks), BET+ (Paramount Streaming), Netflix, TV One, Hulu, Hallmark, Bounce TV, and UP TV. Pricing is negotiated per project rather than through published rate cards, with multi-year production relationships and franchise sequels providing recurring contracted volume. The company monetizes IP through sequel economics (e.g., Single Black Female 2: Simone's Revenge), high-profile talent partnerships (Mary J. Blige, Eva Marcille, Taye Diggs, Amber Riley, Keyshia Cole, Luther Campbell), and co-productions with external production companies (Monami Productions, Big Dreams Entertainment, Mass Appeal). The company employs 11-50 people and is led by founder/CEO Eric Tomosunas, COO Robert A. Boyd II (joined 2020), and Head of Unscripted Tony L. Strickland.
Swirl Films firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Swirl Films
- Legal name
- Swirl Films
- Website
- https://swirlfilms.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Swirl Films is an Atlanta-based independent film and TV production company, founded in 2001, that produces scripted movies, biopics, documentaries, and unscripted series focused on diverse storytelling for enterprise buyers including Lifetime, BET+, Netflix, TV One, Hallmark, and Hulu; it is majority-owned by Gray Television.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Swirl Films industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Film and Television Production
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Live-Action TV Movies, Miniseries & Specials Production (MPADABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Scripted TV Series Production (Live-Action) (MPADABAB), Unscripted/Reality TV Production (Live-Action) (MPADABAC)
Keywords
Where Swirl Films is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Galanta
Offices1 record
Markets served
Swirl Films business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Content Licensing to Networks: Swirl Films produces made-for-TV movies, scripted series, documentaries, and unscripted content which is licensed to TV networks and streaming platforms including BET, Lifetime, Netflix, TV One, Hallmark, UP TV, and BET+. Revenue is generated through content licensing fees, production fees, and ongoing production deals. They have produced over 60 scripted TV movies during the past six years and maintain multi-year production relationships.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Swirl Films product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Swirl Films is an independent film and television production company that develops, produces, and licenses original scripted films, biopics, docu-series, documentaries, and unscripted content to TV networks and streaming platforms including BET, Lifetime, Netflix, TV One, Hallmark, BET+, Hulu, and Bounce TV. The company operates from Atlanta, Georgia using its owned ATL Film Studios production facility and has produced more than 60 scripted TV movies over six years.
Product overview
Swirl Films is America's number one independent film and television production company based in Atlanta, Georgia, with a core focus on diversity and inclusion. Founded in 2001 and relocated to Atlanta in 2014, the company operates as a prolific supplier of original content to major networks and streaming platforms including BET, Lifetime, Netflix, TV One, Hallmark Channel, and Up. The company produces a diverse portfolio spanning scripted films and movies (thrillers, biopics, romantic dramas, holiday films), documentary projects, and unscripted series content. Notable productions include the TV One docu-series 'Uncensored,' Lifetime 'Ripped from the Headlines' movies, and various BET+ original films. Swirl Films also operates ATL Film Studios as an on-site production facility and runs the Black Life Film Festival initiative to support emerging Black filmmakers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Scripted Films and TV Movies Original dramatic films including thrillers, biopics, romantic dramas, and holiday movies produced for television networks and streaming platforms such as Lifetime, BET+, Hallmark, and Netflix.
- UNCENSORED Docu-Series
- Documentary Production Long-form documentary production exemplified by Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told (Hulu, 2024) on Atlanta's legendary HBCU spring break phenomenon of the 80s and 90s, co-produced with Mass Appeal.
- ATL Film Studios Production Facility Owned Atlanta-based film studio and backlot (atlfilmstudios.com) operated by Swirl Films providing sound stages, sets, and on-site production infrastructure for film and television shoots.
- Black Life Film Festival Annual film festival co-produced with Mansa Productions showcasing short films exploring Black life and culture, awarding $5,000 grants to winning filmmakers with top winners workshopping additional projects with Swirl Films and Mansa creative teams.
Quantifiable outcome
- Single Black Female (2022) averaged 8M+ total viewers and was the No. 1 original non-holiday movie of 2022 on Lifetime.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Swirl Films
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Swirl Films technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Swirl Films partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- Blue Butterfly Productions (Mary J. Blige)majorMary J. Blige extended her partnership with Lifetime for three new original films, including 'Mary J. Blige Presents Be Happy' directed by Gabourey Sidibe. The film is a collaboration between Blige's Blue Butterfly Productions, Monami Productions, Motion Entertainment, and Swirl Films.
- Monami Productions (Mona Scott-Young)majorMonami Productions, led by Mona Scott-Young, co-produces multiple Swirl Films projects including 'Love & Murder: Atlanta Playboy' and Mary J. Blige's Lifetime films. Monami has an ongoing collaborative relationship with Swirl Films on various BET+ and Lifetime productions.
- Mass AppealmajorSwirl Films co-produced 'Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told' documentary with Mass Appeal (Nas' production company). Executive producers include Luther 'Uncle Luke' Campbell, Jermaine Dupri, 21 Savage, Terry 'TR' Ross, Melissa Cooper, Alex Avant and Tresa Sanders, Geraldine L. Porras and P. Frank Williams. Peter Bittenbender executive produces for Mass Appeal. The documentary premiered at SXSW before streaming on Hulu.
- Big Dreams EntertainmentmajorBig Dreams Entertainment co-produced 'Girl in the Basement' (Lifetime) and 'Keyshia Cole: This is My Story' (Lifetime) with Swirl Films. For 'Girl in the Basement', executive producers Leslie Greif, Manu Boyer and Barbara Marshall were involved alongside Swirl's Eric Tomosunas and Ron Robinson.
- Luther 'Uncle Luke' CampbellmajorSwirl Films partnered with former 2 Live Crew rapper Luther Campbell (Uncle Luke) to develop and produce film and TV projects. Swirl Films secured Campbell's life rights and will co-produce scripted and unscripted projects centering on his impact on the entertainment industry and community-driven activism. Campbell also created and executive produced BET series 'Luke's Peep Show' and Starz docuseries 'Warriors of Liberty City'.
- Mansa ProductionscoreJoint venture to launch the Black Life Film Festival (BLFF), a virtual showcase of short films exploring Black life and culture. Top 10 filmmakers received $5,000 grants. Top 5 winners workshopped additional projects with Swirl Films and Mansa creative teams. Festival was hosted on Swirl's Instagram Live and Mansa's MTANow mobile app.
- Tupelo Honey Production Banner (Gray Television)coreSwirl Films works closely with Gray Television's Tupelo Honey production banner to expand the volume and scope of production operations for both entities. Tupelo Honey focuses on live events, sports, and music events for Gray's regional operations.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Swirl Films competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Imagine Entertainment: Independent TV/film producer (Ron Howard/Brian Grazer) producing premium scripted content for broadcast and streaming. Operates as an indie production partner to the same major buyers (ABC, Netflix, Apple TV+) on a broader set of genres.
- Tyler Perry Studios: The dominant vertically integrated Black-content studio, with owned production facilities in Atlanta and major output deals with BET, Lionsgate and Netflix. Operates at significantly larger scale than Swirl but competes for the same culturally specific commissioning budgets.
- A+E Studios: The in-house production arm of A+E Networks (Lifetime, A&E, History). Operates both as a buyer of Swirl's content and as an internal competitor producing culturally targeted TV movies for the same Lifetime slot. Direct counter-party overlap.
- Lionsgate: Major independent studio with significant television production operations across Starz, BET+ and external buyers. A much larger peer with comparable production scale and overlapping buyer relationships (BET, Lifetime) but a much broader portfolio.
Direct peers
- DeVon Franklin Productions: Independently operated production company producing faith-based and culturally specific feature films and TV content targeting Black and Christian audiences. Comparable in indie B2B model to networks and streaming platforms.
- Will Packer Productions: Atlanta-based independent production company founded by Will Packer, producing scripted films and series for BET, Lifetime, Netflix and other Black-targeted platforms. Most direct comparable to Swirl Films in scale, content mix, and buyer relationships.
- CodeBlack Films: A Lionsgate- and BET-affiliated production label focused exclusively on Black-targeted feature films and TV content. Competes with Swirl Films for the same culturally specific commissioning slots at BET/BET+, Lifetime and Peacock.
- ARRAY (DuVernay): Independent production and distribution collective founded by Ava DuVernay, producing narrative features, documentaries and series for Black creators and audiences. Comparable in mission-driven positioning and indie operating model to Swirl Films.
- Harpo Films: Oprah Winfrey's production company producing premium scripted film and TV content for OWN and external buyers. Comparable as an independently-run, Black-led production company with strong buyer relationships and recurring franchise output.
Emerging players
- Monami Productions: Independently operated production company led by Mona Scott-Young, actively co-producing BET+ and Lifetime projects with Swirl Films (Love & Murder: Atlanta Playboy, Mary J. Blige titles). Overlaps significantly in genre and buyer base but at smaller scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Swirl Films social profiles
Digital presenceSwirl Films financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Swirl Films leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Swirl Films subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Swirl Films funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Swirl Films M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Swirl Films
What does Swirl Films do?
Swirl Films is an independent film and television production company that develops, produces, and licenses original scripted films, biopics, docu-series, documentaries, and unscripted content to TV networks and streaming platforms including BET, Lifetime, Netflix, TV One, Hallmark, BET+, Hulu, and Bounce TV. The company operates from Atlanta, Georgia using its owned ATL Film Studios production facility and has produced more than 60 scripted TV movies over six years.
Is Swirl Films a public or private company?
Swirl Films is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Swirl Films founded?
Swirl Films was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Swirl Films based?
Swirl Films is headquartered in Galanta.
How does Swirl Films make money?
One revenue line is on record: content Licensing to Networks.
Who are Swirl Films's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Imagine Entertainment, Tyler Perry Studios, A+E Studios and Lionsgate. Direct peers are DeVon Franklin Productions, Will Packer Productions, CodeBlack Films, ARRAY (DuVernay) and Harpo Films. Monami Productions is listed as an emerging player.
Does Swirl Films have an API?
No public API is recorded for Swirl Films.
What industry is Swirl Films in?
Swirl Films's product category is Independent Film and Television Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADABAD, Live-Action TV Movies, Miniseries & Specials Production, with a secondary code of MPADABAB, Scripted TV Series Production (Live-Action). Its NAICS code is 5121 and its SIC code is 7812.