Jemaine Clement’s ‘What We Do In the Shadows’ Acquired By The Orchard

The Orchard, in partnership with Unison Films and Funny or Die, has acquired the U.S. distribution rights for the vampire mockumentary “What We Do In The Shadows,” from New Zealand comedian Jemaine Clement.

The film, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year and will screen at the Toronto International Film Festival next week, centers on a group of New Zealand vampires, all of whom have been “alive” for more than three centuries, and are, therefore, having a hard time adapting to life in the twenty-first century. Clement (who makes up one-half of the Flight of the Conchords comedy duo) stars as the 862-year-old vampire Vladislav — his co-writer and director on the film, Oscar-nominated Taika Waititi, plays the 379-year-old Viago.

The Orchard will handle distribution on the digital, broadcast and DVD fronts, while Unison, which produced the film, will organize theatrical distribution. Funny or Die will supplement the release schedule with support via social media and other marketing initiatives.

“Jemaine, Taika and Emanuel have brought something uniquely funny to the table that will have an immortal life on digital,” commented Paul Davidson, SVP of Film and Television at The Orchard. “‘What We Do In The Shadows’ represents the kind of project The Orchard is excited to champion in the marketplace.”

“What We Do In The Shadows” will play three times next week at TIFF: 11:59pm on Friday, September 12 at the Ryerson; 9:30pm on Saturday, September 13; 3:45pm on Sunday, September 14 at Scotiabank Theatre 3.