The Orchard Gets “Donald Cried”
Apr 25, 2016
Film Premiered at SXSW; also Featured at New Directors/New Films
Los Angeles, CA – April 25, 2016 – The Orchard announced today that the company has acquired North American rights to writer/director Kris Avedisian’s dark comedy DONALD CRIED. The film premiered in competition at the 2016 SXSW Film Festival, followed by a showing at New Directors/New Films and was selected for the IFP labs. Directed by Avedisian and story by Avedisian, Jesse Wakeman and Kyle Espeleta, the film was produced by Electric Chinoland’s Kyle Martin (TINY FURNITURE). After DONALD CRIED debuted at SXSW, the filmmaking team was signed by CAA and Cinetic. The Orchard is planning a theatrical release for the film in early 2017.In DONALD CRIED, Peter Latang (Jesse Wakeman) left working class Warwick, Rhode Island to reinvent himself as a slick, Wall Street mover and shaker. Fifteen years later, when he’s forced to return home to bury his Grandmother, he loses his wallet on the trip. Stranded, the only person he can think of to help him out is his next door neighbor and former childhood friend Donald Treebeck (Kris Avedisian). Donald hasn’t changed a bit, and what starts as a simple favor turns into a long van ride into their past.“It is a film distributor’s dream to come across a movie that is so utterly surprising, unique, hilarious, and deeply layered,” said Danielle DiGiacomo, VP of acquisitions for The Orchard. “’Donald Cried’ heralds a team of important new visionaries of American cinema and we are boundlessly excited to partner with them on what is sure to be the first unforgettable film of many.”
Said Avedisian: “When you set out to make something your only hope is that people will in some way connect to the material. So when you get a group of people like The Orchard that not only connect but also feel as passionate about your work as you do – you really can’t be paid a higher compliment.”
Linzee Troubh of Cinetic negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers.
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,” Taika Waititi’s “The Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” Roger Ross Williams’ “Life, Animated” and Antonio Campos’ “Christine.” The company is currently in theaters with Joachim Trier’s “Louder Than Bombs.”
