Sundance Grand Jury Documentary Prize Winner “Rich Hill” Finds Distribution Home with The Orchard And Independent Lens

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Category: Entertainment News

Published on Tuesday, 18 March 2014 11:11

March 17, 2014 – Los Angeles, CA Filmmakers Tracy Droz Tragos and Andrew Droz Palermo announced today that the Emmy Award-winning television series Independent Lens will partner with film and music distribution company The Orchard to distribute their film RICH HILL, winner of the 2014 Sundance Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary.

Independent Lens, which acquired linear broadcast rights for the US, is broadcast nationally on PBS. The Orchard acquired the film for all rights in the US and Canada outside of linear broadcast. The company will release RICH HILL theatrically in 18 markets, as well as across all major digital outlets as part of The Orchard's new acclaimed and festival documentary imprint Opus Docs.

"RICH HILL is a beautiful, powerful, and important film that puts a human face on rural poverty in a respectful and artistic way. The Orchard is thrilled to be able to use our expertise, technology, and relationships to distribute the film across theatrical and digital platforms in North America, engaging audiences and creating impact for a film that we feel should be seen by the widest possible audience," says Danielle DiGiacomo, The Orchard's head of documentary acquisitions, who negotiated the deal for The Orchard.

"We are so happy to be teaming up with The Orchard and Independent Lens for RICH HILL," said co-director Andrew Droz Palermo. "From our earliest conversations, it was clear to us that they both share a real desire and enthusiasm to have the film seen by as many people as possible, and in doing so, to touch the lives of struggling families in communities like Rich Hill, Missouri across America."

"It was important for us and the film to find partners who clearly understood our movie and could use their influence to reach the widest audiences," adds co-director Tracy Droz Tragos. "Personally, I felt a kinship with Independent Lens since they took a chance and supported my debut film BE GOOD, SMILE PRETTY, which went on to win an Emmy. And to be working with The Orchard on our theatrical and digital release, I feel confident that RICH HILL is in great hands."

"Independent Lens funded Tracy's film BE GOOD, SMILE PRETTY which premiered on Season 2 and went on to win an Emmy Award for Best Documentary," said Lois Vossen, Independent Lens Senior Series Producer. "We're very pleased to be working with Andrew and Tracy again on RICH HILL, an immersive portrait of the devastating economic blight that has clouded the American dream."

RICH HILL follows the stories and lives of three teenage boys and their families living on the edge of poverty in the town of Rich Hill, Missouri, as they deal with daily challenges of growing up. The film premiered in January at Sundance Film Festival 2014, where it won top honors as Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary.

Zac Bright and Kevin Iwashina of Preferred Content and Linda Lichter of Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler and Feldman, Inc brokered the deal on behalf of the filmmakers.

About ITVS/Independent Lens

Independent Television Service (ITVS) funds, presents, and promotes award-winning documentaries on public television, innovative new media projects on the web, and the Emmy® Award-winning weekly series Independent Lens on Monday nights at 10 PM on PBS. The acclaimed anthology series features documentaries united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement, and unflinching visions of independent filmmakers. Independent Lens is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), with additional funding from PBS and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The senior series producer is Lois Vossen. More information at pbs.org/independentlens.

About The Orchard

The Orchard is a pioneering music, video and film distribution company and top-ranked Multi Channel Network operating in more than 25 global markets. With a holistic approach to sales and marketing combined with industry-leading technology and operations, The Orchard amplifies reach and revenue across hundreds of digital, physical and mobile outlets around the world. The Orchard streamlines content owners' business complexity with an intuitive client dashboard, comprehensive rights management and tailored client support. Founded in 1997, The Orchard empowers businesses and creators in the entertainment industry. For further information, please visit www.theorchard.com .