Gangs of London producer Thomas Benski unveils transatlantic media, VC outfit Lumina
Former Pulse Films co-founder Thomas Benski has announced the launch of Lumina, a talent- and IP-led media group and venture capital firm.
Thomas Benski
The company, based in London, New York and LA, aims to empower creatives to own more of their work, as well as acting as a financial investment platform.
Describing itself as well-capitalised, the outfit has secured funding in the “mid-eight figures” from investors including Magnus Rausing’s BFK, Charles Dorfman’s Dorfman Media Holdings and SVS Holdings.
Lumina claims to have the resources of a global studio and is focusing its attention on four verticals: talent-driven studios, production, kids and family, and consumer. Its portfolio will span all major content types, genres and formats, with an emphasis on premium IP, technology and embracing new financial models.
Gangs of London producer Benski co-founded London-based Pulse Films in 2005 alongside Marisa Clifford. In March 2022, they both stepped down, six years after selling a controlling interest to Vice Media Group. Benski’s production credits include Apple TV+ music documentary Beastie Boys Story and 2016 feature film American Honey.
This March, Benski joined forces with French actor Omar Sy (Lupin) and Hollywood director Louis Leterrier to launch Carrousel Studios, a European “artists-first” outfit producing scripted TV series and movies.
In the kids and family space, Lumina has backed gaming studio Creators Corp and kids IP business Strike, while also investing in consumer brands Metier, DAACI and an activewear brand to be announced soon. Lumina has also launched Magna Studios, led by Marisa Clifford and Davud Karbassioun, which is developing a slate of scripted, factual and branded projects.
Lupin actor Omar Sy joined Benski to set up Carrousel Studios
In its first year of operation, Lumina claims to have delivered US$55m in revenue across the group and will start to deliver its first content in early 2025. An “IP war chest” has also been secured to enable the funding of film and TV projects.
Benski said: “The current media landscape is in flux and we believe this is the ideal time to build future-facing companies. Drawing from our rich past experience, we are building in the present to shape the future.
“Our thesis is that there is a big opportunity to decouple the IP creation process by building studios and production companies around major talent. This will help them own more of their work and build long lasting companies that remove unnecessary and expensive layers in the process of creating IP.”
Magnus Rausing, of investor BFK, said: “Lumina’s collective knowledge in investing and operating businesses makes them the ideal platform for pioneering a new approach that both supports talent to create and own valuable IP while driving innovation across its companies – creatively, strategically and technologically.
“I was looking for a vehicle to build a media and entertainment footprint and Lumina is absolutely the right platform given its inventive model, so I’m excited to help it become a defining player in the ecosystem.”
