Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival 2011 NYC - UPDATE

Kicking + Screening (K+S) Soccer Film Festival, the world's premier international film event dedicated solely to the beautiful game, has announced the lineup of films to be screened at the 3rd annual New York City festival, July 20–23, 2011, at the famous TriBeCa Cinemas.

The lineup includes 11 films, boasting one world premiere and seven US premieres. All 11 films will make their New York debut.

Selected from more than 55 submissions from 28 countries, the films include Argentina Futbol Club, an inside look at the passion of Argentina’s biggest rivalry, between Boca Juniors and River Plate; Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story, which tells the remarkable story of defender Jay DeMerit’s rise from Wisconsin’s youth leagues to the World Cup; Soka Afrika, an unsentimental exposé of two young African players’ struggles to succeed in Europe; and Match 64, an intimate, behind-the-scenes portrait of the 2010 FIFA World Cup final.

Guest Speakers: New York Red Bulls technical director Erik Soler and ESPN soccer analyst Alexi Lalas will headline the 2011 speakers’ panel series. Also taking part in the panel discussions will be directors, producers, and writers from the majority of K+S’s official film selections.

Schedule:

“The Passion of the Game”
-Wed Jul 20 - 7:30 pm ET
FEATURE: Argentina Futbol Club (Argentina), dir. Juan Pablo Roubio
SHORT: Sivan (Israel), dir. Zohar Elefant
SHORT: Opprykk (Promotion) (Norway), dir. Jan Ingar Grindheim
SPEAKER: Gavin Sullivan, writer and producer of Argentina Futbol Club (feature selection)
SPEAKER: Rick Ball, writer, producer, and Manchester United fan

“Over There: The Battle for American Respect in Europe”
-Thu Jul 21 - 7:30 pm ET
FEATURE: Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story (USA), dir. Nick Lewis, Ranko Tutulugdzija
SHORT: Gareth Bale and El Clasico animations (UK), dir. Richard Swarbrick
SHORT: Blind Ambition (UK), dir. Christopher Bridger
SPEAKER: Alexi Lalas, ESPN soccer analyst and former US national team star
SPEAKER: Nick Lewis, writer and director of Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story (feature selection)
SPEAKER: Ranko Tutulugdzija, writer and director of Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story (feature selection)

“Developing Talent or Trafficking Players? Player movement from Africa”
-Fri Jul 22 - 7:30 pm ET
FEATURE: Soka Afrika (France), dir. Suridh Hassan
SHORT: Stab und Darstellar (The Final Fax) (Germany), dir. Nico Raschick
SPEAKER: Erik Soler, technical director of the New York Red Bulls
SPEAKER: Simon Laub, producer of Soka Afrika (feature selection)
SPEAKER: Sam Potter, producer of Soka Afrika (feature selection)

“Pressure at the Highest Level”
-Sat Jul 23 - 7:30 pm ET
FEATURE: Match 64 (South Africa), dir. Daniel Gordon
SHORT: Rattskiparen (The Referee) (Sweden), dir. Mattias Low
SPEAKER: Daniel Gordon, director of Match 64 (feature selection)
SPEAKER: Mattias Löw, director of Rättskiparen (The Referee) (feature selection)

Go to the official website for more info on the films.