Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group has swooped on all international media rights (excluding UK TV) and North American home entertainment rights to the previously untitled documentary By The People: The Election Of Barack Obama.

Edward Norton’s Class 5 Films produced and Amy Rice and Alicia Sams directed the film, which chronicles President Obama’s path to the White House with exclusive access to Obama and his staff from the time he announced his candidacy.

HBO Documentary Films holds US theatrical rights and Sony Pictures Television will handle TV sales outside the US and the UK, as well as mobile and new media deals.

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group president Steve Bersch said the film-makers had ‘done a beautiful job of creating a compelling narrative’ about ‘a truly transformative event.’

‘Obama’s election was, clearly, a global event which people all over the world felt deeply about on both political and emotional levels,’ Norton said.

‘From the start, it was very important to us to share this film with as broad an international audience as possible and we’re really thrilled to be partnered with Sony in trying to achieve this because no company has more experience or reach in both the world markets and home video.’

Andrew Hurwitz and Endeavor negotiated the deal on behalf of the film-makers with Sony.

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