Gravitas Ventures has picked up the worldwide rights to the documentary Handle With Care: The Legend Of The Notic Streetball Crew.

The film is directed by Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux and Kirk Thomas, and produced by Ryan Sidhoo with Telus Originals, RTG Features and Victory Creative Group.

Handle With Care chronicles the rise, fall and rebirth of The Notic, an upstart streetball collective from Vancouver in the early 2000s.

Gravitas Ventures, a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment, is set to release the film on March 26.

NBA All-Star Chris Paul and Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA executive produce, along with Canadian NBA stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort, as well as CJ Paul and Juanita Thompson of Ohh Dip!!! Productions.

The deal was brokered by Bill Guentzler at Gravitas Ventures and by Aron Phillips at RTG Features on behalf of the filmmakers.

The film, which was recently nominated for three Canadian Screen Awards, made its world premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival, winning the True North Audience Award and Best BC Film Award. It was also an official selection at Hot Docs (where it was a Top 10 Audience Favourite), and had its U.S. premiere at New York’s Urbanworld Film Festival.

“Gravitas Ventures is a champion of great documentary films and we’re excited to have them on board to release the true story of street basketball’s greatest brotherhood,” said directors Schaulin-Rioux and Thomas in a joint statement. “Streetball heads and basketball fans around the world have been waiting 20 years for the return of The Notic, and we can’t wait to show them the creativity, passion and perseverance of this amazing crew.”

Image courtesy of RTG Features