"Black Gold" Gets Newsreel Deal

California Newsreel has nabbed U.S. theatrical and DVD rights to Nick Francis and Marc Francis "Black Gold," which debuted earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival. The film, in the words of an announcement, "explores the world of coffee, from the Ethiopian farmers who grow it, to the international coffee culture that has grown to make coffee a multibillion dollar business." Andrew Herwitz of the Film Sales Company brokered the deal on behalf of the filmmakers with Larry Daressa on behalf of California Newsreel. A deal is U.S. TV broadcast deal is also being negotiated. Next up for the film are screenings at Hot Docs this week and the Seattle International Film Festival and the New York Human Rights Watch Film Festival next month. [Eugene Hernandez]