The Orchard Acquires North American Distribution Rights to Antonio Campos’ Critically Acclaimed Drama “Christine,” Starring Rebecca Hall, Michael C. Hall, and Tracy Letts
Feb 04, 2016
The film won raves at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and features Rebecca Hall in a tour-de-force performance
The Orchard plans to release the film later this year followed by an awards push
LOS ANGELES, CA – February 4, 2016 – The Orchard announced today that the company has acquired all North American distribution rights to director Antonio Campos’ CHRISTINE, starring Rebecca Hall. The drama premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival in the US dramatic competition category to rave reviews. The Orchard is planning a traditional theatrical release for the film later this year followed by an awards campaign, highlighting the tour-de-force performance by Rebecca Hall in the title role.
CHRISTINE is written by Craig Shilowich, produced by Shilowich & Melody C. Roscher (The Wonder Club), and executive produced by Sean Durkin & Josh Mond (Borderline Films) and Robert Halmi, Jr. & Jim Reeve (Great Point Media). A strong supporting cast is rounded out by Michael C. Hall (“Dexter”), Tracy Letts (“Homeland,” Pulitzer prize-winning playwright), Maria Dizzia (“Orange is the New Black”), Timothy Simons (“Veep”), and J. Smith-Cameron (MARGARET), among others.
Based on true events, CHRISTINE is about an ambitious 29-year-old news reporter (Rebecca Hall, in the title role), in Sarasota, FL, circa 1974. Relentlessly motivated to succeed, she knows she has talent, but being a driven career woman in the 1970s comes with its own challenges, especially when competition for a promotion, unrequited love for a coworker (Michael C. Hall) and a tumultuous home life lead to a dissolution of self. With ratings in the cellar, the station manager issues a mandate to deliver juicier and more exploitative stories, a story firmly at odds with Christine’s serious brand of issue-based journalism. To accomplish her goals, she must overcome her self-doubt and give the people what they want.
“CHRISTINE is one of the most enthralling and compelling films we saw at Sundance and Rebecca Hall’s performance is simply mesmerizing,” says Paul Davidson, The Orchard’s SVP, Film and Television. “There are so few films that truly stick with you the way this one does. Antonio’s vision is exceptionally unique and he is precisely the kind of filmmaker we are committed to working with at The Orchard.”
Campos continues, “We’re so happy that CHRISTINE has found a home with The Orchard. Their passion and enthusiasm has truly excited us, and we can’t think of a better partner.”
The Orchard, whose 2015 Sundance acquisition CARTEL LAND was just nominated for an Academy Award, had another active year at the festival. The company recently announced deals on hot Sundance titles HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE and LIFE, ANIMATED.
Campos is an award-winning writer, director, and producer; he is one of the three founding members of Borderline Films, a New York-based production company and filmmaking coalition. Campos’ previous director credits include AFTERSCHOOL, which premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, and SIMON KILLER, which premiered in competition at the 2012 Sundance Film. Through Borderline, Campos has produced such titles as Josh Mond’s JAMES WHITE and Sean Durkin’s MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE. Borderline also executive produced the Sundance 2016 title THE EYES OF MY MOTHER, directed by Nick Pesce, under the banner Borderline Presents.
The Orchard negotiated the deal with UTA Independent Film Group and WME.
ABOUT THE ORCHARD
The Orchard is a pioneering independent film, TV and music distribution company that operates in over 25 global markets. The company, founded as a music distributor in 1997, is a groundbreaking leader in the film and television distribution space, known for its innovative technology that provides filmmakers with up-to-the minute trending data and analytics on their projects. The Orchard’s film division has enjoyed such recent successes as the Academy Award-nominated documentary “Cartel Land,” “The Overnight,” “Dior & I” and “What We Do in the Shadows.” Upcoming releases include Academy Award-winner Morgan Neville’s “The Music of Strangers” and Joachim Trier’s “Louder Than Bombs.”