Grab a Java Porter (or a cup of coffee) and join the folks from Gizmo Pictures and PT’s Coffee Roasting Co. at the first public screening of their collaboration — The Gombe Coffee Project Video — at the Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant.

Filmed last May by Gizmo’s David Kitchner, the video documents PT’s relationship with coffee farmers in the Gombe region of Tanzania during a visit by PT’s co-owner Jeff Taylor. The screening, which is free, is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15.

Kitchner endured a lengthy pre-project illness, four days of travel to and from Kigoma, Tanzania, where he was based during the five-day shoot, bone-jarring mountain roads and gun-toting locals (fortunately they were friendly) to make the film.

“Jeff came to us and said, ‘Hey, I’d like to have something that shows what I do,’ ” said Gizmo co-owner Jeff Carson. “He said, ‘I can’t do a full-blown documentary like most people probably can, but I can offer to fly a guy out there if you can supply a guy and a camera.’ I said that’s fine, let’s do that.”

The Gombe Coffee Project was initiated in 2007 when Sustainable Harvest Coffee Importers, of Portland, Ore., began working with farmers in Tanzania to improve the quality of the coffee from the Kanyovu Co-op. Eventually, direct trade between the co-op and a few roasters, including PT’s, was established.

“We met some farmers and they were all excited to see us and talk to us,” Kitchner said. “It was like, you’re helping us out, we want to help you out. It was all phenomenal. This whole direct trade process has changed the whole way their lives are structured.”

Kitchner said he spent about a week and half — and some very long hours — editing the colorful footage and selecting the music for the finished product.

“David came back – and I told him he’s gonna win an Emmy for this thing – with a beautiful piece of filmmaking,” Carson said.

THE GOMBE COFFEE PROJECT VIDEO
What: Public screening of a film by Gizmo Pictures’ David Kitchner documenting PT’s Coffee Roasting Co.’s relationship with farmers in Tanzania
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15
Where: Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant, 417 S.W. 37th St.
Cost: Free
Special: $1 off Blind Tiger’s Java Porter

ONLINE
YOUTUBE: http://bit.ly/hWfHn
PT'S: http://www.ptscoffee.com/
GIZMO: http://www.gizmopictures.com/