Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) is understood to be closing inon worldwide DVD rights for the hotly contested Sundance documentary Metallica:Some Kind Of Monster,which has reportedly got international buyers in Berlin lining up fortheatrical rights. A domestic theatrical deal is also close, with IFC Filmsleading the pack.

DVD rights would be a major scorefor PHE bearing in mind the potentially massive built-in market provided by thelegendary hard rock band's legions of global fans.

Calls to PHE were unreturned at time of going to press. Directedby Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster follows the platinum-selling band from2001-2003, a particularly turbulent period as they attempt to cut their firstalbum in six years and endure fractious recording sessions, bitter fights and astream of advice from the band's $40,000-a-month psychiatrist.

Films Transit ishandling worldwide sales.

Jeremy Kay in Los Angeles contributed to this report