Danielle DiGiacomo
Danielle DiGiacomo is the Head of Content at Utopia Media, where she leads acquisition, development, and packaging for incoming content and IP.
She is one of the coolest in the biz. She is constantly keeping it real while keeping her finger on the pulse of the industry and simultaneously following her gut to distribute the most exciting and daring films around.
She recently acquired the critically acclaimed Sundance doc Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets, and TIFF darling Shiva Baby, and is developing a slate of Utopia Originals, including a TV adaptation of cult classic Sorority House Massacre.
Previously, DiGiacomo was SVP of Acquisitions and Strategic Partnerships at 1091 (formerly The Orchard). She led all content acquisitions, talent curation, pre-buys, and production; and formed strategic partnerships with companies including CNN, A & E, HBO, Tribeca Film Institute, and Vice. Films acquired include Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Matt Heineman’s Cartel Land, Pablo Larrain’s Neruda, Jeremiah Zagar’s We the Animals, and Werner Herzog’s Meeting Gorbachev.
Under DiGiacomo’s tenure, The Orchard/1091’s films garnered two Oscar nominations, a Golden Globe nomination, 14 Independent Spirit Award nominations, 6 Critics’ Choice Awards and nominations, and 6 Cesar Award wins.
DiGiacomo is also a Peabody-award-winning producer for the documentary Best Kept Secret, which aired on PBS' POV in 2013. She developed and produced the first two annual Cinema Eye Honors for Nonfiction Film, and Associate Produced two documentary features, Jennifer Venditti's Billy the Kid and Samantha Buck's 21 BELOW.
She's open like a book and reads the industry like one, and we have the distinct pleasure of being privy to her knowledge and perspective. During this no-hold-barred conversation we talk about the ins and outs of distribution, the art of negotiation, and how no one really knows what they're doing, so we might as well be kind and have fun doing it.
Show Quotes:
“I want to be kind to filmmakers and I want to give them the best deals possible. But I'm also here to make sure that independent film distributors like us stay around and don't break all our budgets.” 49:58
“You never know who's gonna be the next industry leader, or the next big hotshot producer or executive. It could be your intern. So just be kind to everyone.” 53:06
“Keeping good, sustainable relationships and respectful relationships is incredibly important.” 2:56