Photo: Stumptown Coffee Roasters
[S]tumptown Coffee Roasters has partnered with Farm League to produce a short film on their travels to Ethiopia to learn about the country’s rich history and culture that interweaves ancient practices with modern day experiences. Described as “a visual poem evoking a nuanced narrative portrait,” Wax & Gold promises to evoke much of the magic that made the partners’ first project, Flower of Flowers, so enchanting. Britton Caillouette of Farm League directed the film with a focus on the tension between Ethiopia’s history and contemporary life through powerful imagery, layered sound design, and driving music.
To coincide with the premiere, Stumptown is releasing a whole bean and cold brew in collaboration with Farm League and Haile Gebre of Ethiopia’s Mordecofe, a legend in specialty industry who’s been growing coffee for more than 60 years. Proceeds from the collaboration will support the Mulatu Astatke’s Jazz School in Addis Ababa.
Wax & Gold will premiere Saturday, August 24, at Mack Sennett Studios in Los Angeles, coinciding with the upcoming Coffee Fest LA. Various all-ages screenings will be held 12:00–4:00 p.m., and an evening 21+ screening with a cocktail hour and panel will take place 5:00–8:00 p.m. Tickets and additional information are available through the Stumptown website.
For those who can’t attend the premiere screenings, the movie will be available online the following Monday, August 26, on Vimeo
and YouTube.
