#The Empress and I #Jump Global Media #Donna Stein

Jump Global Media's Exciting New Project: 'The Empress and I'

In a significant move within the entertainment industry, Jump Global Media Group UK Ltd., led by Aric Ackerman, has recently acquired the film and television rights to The Empress and I, an acclaimed memoir penned by the talented Donna Stein. This announcement, made on September 18, 2025, places Jump GMG in a position to present a narrative that combines political intrigue with the world of fine arts.

The Empress and I narrates the remarkable journey of an American curator who was instrumental in advising the Iranian monarchy on acquiring a noteworthy collection of modern art. Between the years 1975 and 1977, Donna Stein served as the Western Art Advisor to the Shahbanou of Iran's Private Secretariat. The memoir sheds light on her experiences amidst the opulence of the empress's court, detailing how her selections — now valued in the billions — became pivotal pieces housed in the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art.

Aric Ackerman expressed his enthusiasm for bringing Stein's story to a wider audience, referencing critical acclaim the memoir has received since its publication by Skira in 2021. The New York Times highlighted the rare depiction of bureaucratic complexities alongside the everyday life of a young American woman navigating a transformable political landscape. Meanwhile, The Art Newspaper praised the book for its blend of glamour, intrigue, and artistry.

Ackerman elaborates on the timeliness and cinematic potential of Stein's tale, emphasizing how it reveals an essential yet often overlooked chapter in the intersections of diplomacy and the arts, set against the backdrop of a monarchy on the verge of dramatic change. He describes this narrative as one of bravery, belief, wealth, and cultural translation, highlighting Stein's unique position as a woman in a male-dominant society who successfully implemented an acquisition strategy that led to what Bloomberg News dubbed