COLUMBUS FILMMAKERS JOIN FORCES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Two award-winning Columbus production companies join forces on a family holiday comedy, with casting calls to be announced soon.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — 10/26/2026 — Emperium Studios, the award-winning Columbus film and animation company led by Dom Campbell, today announced a creative partnership with Stewbean Productions LLC, founded by producer Mark Stewart. The two companies will co-produce a new holiday feature film, title to be announced, set to film in Columbus this winter.

The partnership brings together two filmmakers with different track records and a shared approach: high-quality films made on modest budgets, with Columbus talent on both sides of the camera. Emperium Studios is known for crime, drama and heartfelt urban stories made for streaming audiences. Stewbean Productions has built a festival-winning slate that spans mockumentary, romantic comedy, drama, holiday and faith-based films.

The collaboration came together through a mutual friend: Columbus filmmaker, author and film critic Hope Madden. Madden, who co-founded MaddWolf with her husband George Wolf and directed the horror comedy Obstacle Corpse, saw a natural fit between Campbell's and Stewart's storytelling styles and encouraged the two to work together.

"This partnership is a milestone for Emperium Studios," said Dom Campbell, founder of Emperium Studios. "Mark and I come at stories from different directions, but we both care about the same things: real characters, real heart, and telling a story that could resonate globally. A holiday film is something families come back to every year, and I can't think of a better partner to make one with."

"Dom has built something special in Columbus, and his films reach audiences all over the world," said Mark Stewart, founder of Stewbean Productions. "Our two companies bring different strengths to the table, and this holiday film lets us put them together. We're grateful to Hope for making the introduction, and we can't wait to share more."

About Mark Stewart

Mark Stewart graduated from The Ohio State University's College of Business and spent more than 30 years in human resources for multiple Fortune 500 companies. He served 14 years on the Mid-Ohio Foodbank Board of Directors. He retired early from his role as Vice President of Human Resources at Alliance Data Systems to found Stewbean Productions. His first feature, the mockumentary Mock & Roll, premiered in Austin with six nominations, including Best Comedy Feature, and went on to win Best Feature and Best Original Score on the festival circuit.

About Stewbean Productions

Stewbean Productions LLC was founded by Mark H. Stewart in 2016 to produce original, multi-genre feature films. Its work ranges from mockumentary and romantic comedy to drama, holiday and faith-based films, and has won awards on the film festival circuit. Stewbean's films spotlight talented women on both sides of the camera, and the company collaborates with other filmmakers to create high-quality productions on modest budgets. Key projects include A Story Worth Living (2020), Christmas Collision (2021), Forbearance (2022) and Learning You (2026), with Breaking Joy slated for release in 2027.

About Dom Campbell

Dom Campbell is a self-taught filmmaker who began shooting short films in Columbus in 2016. His first feature, Bad Business, sold out its 2019 premiere at the Gateway Film Center. He founded Emperium Studios in 2020 and has since written, directed and executive produced a growing library of independent films, along with the children's series A Kid Named Bug. Read his full story at emperiumstudios.com/domcampbell.

About Emperium Studios

Emperium Studios is an award-winning film and animation company based in Columbus, Ohio, founded by writer, director and producer Dom Campbell. Known for crime, drama and heartfelt urban stories, the studio produces content for streaming audiences worldwide. Its breakout film The Female Hustler passed 100 million minutes viewed on Tubi within its first 90 days, launching a franchise. The studio's slate also includes Temporary Suspicion, Her Way, Tears for Tasha, Affliction: Toxic Misery and Ava and The Boy She Loved. Emperium earned a 2022 Telly Award for its feature film work, and its animation label, Emperium Animation, has also received awards. Learn more at emperiumstudios.com.

WHAT'S NEXT

The film is a family holiday comedy set and shot in Columbus. Production is planned for the 2026 holiday season, using local cast, crew and locations.

The companies will announce the film's title, casting calls and further details in the coming weeks. Updates will be posted at emperiumstudios.com and on both companies' social channels.