The Orchard Film Group has officially launched under its new name, 1091, after being acquired by investment group 1091 Media. Daniel Stein, a principal with 1091 Media alongside Joe Samberg, is taking on the role of Executive Chairman of 1091, Stein and Samberg announced Wednesday.
The company’s first releases under its new banner are “Meeting Gorbachev,” a documentary from Werner Herzog being released on May 3, and “Halston,” another documentary releasing on May 24. Both films will play at the Tribeca Film Festival.
In addition to Stein, the new company’s leadership includes Chad Blackwell, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer; Julie Dansker, Chief Revenue Officer; Danielle DiGiacomo, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions and Strategic Partnerships; Adam Brostoff, Senior Vice President, Operations; Danny Grant, Senior Vice President, Film and Strategic Partnerships; and Natalie Mooallem, Senior Vice President, Client Management.
The film business was acquired from The Orchard and marks its return to the original ownership team, which established the initial vision for the movie and TV distribution operation when they owned The Orchard prior to its sale to Sony Music Entertainment in 2015. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“This is a homecoming in many ways for Joe and me, having originally launched the business in 2010 when we owned The Orchard. With the dramatic shifts in the content and distribution landscape, more content is being created and delivered to more platforms than ever before. We look forward to building on our relationships with filmmakers and content creators,” Stein said in a statement. “We have an outstanding management team with a strong track record that will take 1091 in an exciting new direction, with continued support and investment, including a renewed focus on expanding partnerships for our leading action sports content catalogue.”
The new leadership team includes veterans from the former company as well as COO/CFO, Chad Blackwell, a past finance executive at The Orchard. Julie Dansker, Chief Revenue Officer, will oversee all sales and marketing across all content categories with a focus on building new growth and revenue opportunities. Danielle DiGiacomo, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions and Strategic Partnerships will oversee the film and television content acquisitions, developing strategic partnerships and managing all original series and films across partners. Danny Grant, Senior Vice President, Film and Strategic Partnerships, will oversee all action sports content and niche verticals and identify strategic partnership opportunities. From New York, Natalie Mooallem will continue to manage client relationships and Adam Brostoff will oversee all operations.
Released in 2016 and directed by “Thor: Ragnarok” director Taika Waititi, “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” was The Orchard’s highest-grossing release with $5.2 million grossed from a maximum screen count of 200. Other films released by the outlet include the Sam Elliott drama “The Hero,” the Gael Garcia Bernal biopic “Neruda,” and the Oscar-nominated documentary “Cartel Land.