Xenon Pictures


Xenon Pictures is an American film production and distribution company which releases titles produced by African-American filmmakers for African-American audiences. The label has distribution deals with numerous prominent filmmakers, such as Melvin Van Peebles, Rudy Ray Moore, Jamaa Fanaka, Ralph Bakshi and Perry Henzell.

Company information

Xenon was founded by S. Leigh Savidge in 1986 under the name of Xenon Entertainment with $17,000 in startup capital, Xenon is recognized in the industry for developing the nation's first label for independent black cinema. Xenon has acquired and produced a wide spectrum of content, including the work of ’70s masters Melvin Van Peebles and Rudy Ray Moore, definitive biographies on Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahalia Jackson, films featuring hip-hop stars like Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre, and contemporary films from emerging directors such as Tim Story and Mandel Holland.

Televisa Deal

In 2002, Xenon signed a landmark deal with Mexican media powerhouse Televisa to develop and distribute its domestic video brand, Televisa Home Entertainment. Working with programming such as classic television series, top-rated telenovelas, documentaries on major Latino stars, and theatrical features, Xenon helped position Televisa to be the dominant brand in the Latin/Spanish-language genre.