Former Pulse Films CEO Thomas Benski launches media group Lumina

Lumina describes itself as “a well-capitalised talent and IP-led media group and venture firm uniquely built to support and grow companies in the modern media and consumer landscape where talent, IP and brand are the multipliers.”

It is backed by a first round of funding in the mid-eight figures from investors including Magnus Rausing’s BFK, Charles Dorfman’s Dorfman Media Holdings and SVS Holdings.

The company is organised into four verticals - talent driven studios; production; kids & family; and consumer.

Lumina has already partnered with talent like Omar Sy and Louis Leterrier for the new European studio Carrousel Studios led by CEO Cecile Gaget, and Top Boy director Yann Demange’s Wayward Films.

Lumina has also launched a new multi-disciplinary film studio, Magna Studios, led by former Pulse Films executives Marisa Clifford and Davud Karbassioun which has projects in production across branded, documentaries and scripted.

In the kids and family vertical, it has backed gaming studio Creators Corp as well as kids IP business Strike. 

It has also invested in consumer brands like Metier, DAACI and just closed an investment in an active wear brand soon to be announced. 

Benski exited Pulse in 2021 with credits including Gangs of London (Sky/AMC), Beastie Boys Story (Apple), PIG (Neon), The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann (Netflix) and Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now (Netflix).

Benski said: “With content at the heart of everything today, I strongly believe talent, brands and IP are the multipliers.  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. With capital and strategic input we believe in the decentralised United Artist model for today.”