A busy summer of #soccerfilms ahead

The summer of #soccerfilms is upon us.

Later this month, a busy schedule of K+S soccer film events will kick off. We couldn’t be more excited. 

Here’s the upcoming calendar of events:

• June 24: The re-release of Messi & Me (on the GOAT’s birthday, no less!), as the short film that wowed audiences at K+S New York 2018 will become available across all the major VOD streaming platforms. (TRAILER)

• June 28: Virtual premiere of the The Holy Game, a documentary about the annual international tournament played among the priests and seminarians at the Vatican City. Plus live Q&A with director Brent Hodge. (TRAILER)

• July 8: Special screening of Playing for Peace in partnership with Women in Soccer and America SCORES. Plus live Q&A with director Arielle Sabol Thomas. (TRAILER)

• July 29: Hybrid in-person/virtual event at Westport Library in Westport, CT. Screening of the film Men of Hope, about a German coach’s efforts to lead the Afghanistan national team. Plus live panel discussion. (TRAILER)

• August 10: Virtual North American premiere of Casuals, a documentary about the “casuals” terrace fashion championed by British footy fans in the 1980s. Plus live panel discussion. (TRAILER)

We’ll have more information on all of these events, including ticket sales information and ancillary programming, in the near future. Stay tuned. 

K+S to host virtual premiere of "The Holy Game" on June 28

We are very excited to announce our next event — a virtual premiere screening for the upcoming documentary The Holy Game. The screening will take place on Monday, June 28, ahead of the film’s broad release on streaming platforms.

The Holy Game, directed by Brent Hodge, tells the story of the Clericus Cup, a kind of mini-World Cup held every year in the Vatican. The film goes behind the scenes with the young seminarians and priests who represent their countries to play in the tournament.

Ultimately, The Holy Game goes beyond what happens on the field of play, and gives us unique insight into why people still sacrifice so much to become priests.

More details and ticket sales info coming soon.

K+S cofounder Greg Lalas featured in new interview series from Gilt Edge Soccer Marketing

Kicking + Screening cofounder Greg Lalas was interviewed by John Guppy as part of a new soccer-business video series called “The Assist,” from soccer-marketing agency Gilt Edge Soccer Marketing.

Check it out:

Introducing the Kicking + Screening Room

We recently redid our website. One of the redesign’s initiatives was the new Kicking + Screening Room — a curated digital library of soccer films that are available to stream right now. Some are free, some are for rent, and all of them are worth your time.

Each week, we will add one or two films and let you know about them through this newsletter and our social channels. This week:

• The Ronaldo-over, a short documentary about the aftermath of the Cristiano Ronaldo bust fiasco

• Altinha, which explores the culture of juggling on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro

We hope you check out the Screening Room and enjoy all the films. Tell us what you think. And if you ever see a soccer film you think we should feature, let us know.

Special Screening: "Playing for Peace" launch event, March 31

We’re ready to roll again.

On Wednesday, March 31, we will host our first event since the pandemic hit. And we couldn’t be more excited! (The exclamation point says it all, no?)

In partnership with Women in Soccer, we will host a virtual screening of the short documentary Playing for Peace. The screening will be followed by a discussion with director Arielle Thomas Sabol, joined by Women in Soccer founder Courtney Carroll Levinsohn.

The event will begin at 7:00PM ET. Attendance is free, but registration is required to attend the screening. NOTE: A link for the virtual streaming page and the post-film discussion will be sent on Tuesday, March 30, to everyone who registers.

Playing for Peace synopsis: In the middle of the Negev Desert lies the Israeli city of Be’er Sheva. Home to the football club HaPoel Be’er Sheva, the city has equal number of Muslim and Jewish residents and sits only 20 km south of the West Bank. Hapoel Be’er Sheva was plagued by a 40-year championship drought until a new owner, Alona Barkat, came in with a vision of tolerance and acceptance. With this vision, Alona, the first woman owner of an Israeli soccer team, brought the club their long-awaited championship.

More than just football, Playing for Peace is a story of creating a team of champions with a culture of tolerance and acceptance. This team and fan base leave people questioning: if peace is possible on the pitch and in the stands, where else can it be possible?

About Women in Soccer: Women in Soccer is a new network on a mission to connect ALL women and allies who love the beautiful game to create a more equitable soccer industry. Whether you’re on the field, or cheering from the stands, work in the business, want to be in the business, or are a passionate changemaker—the WIS network is here to support you. Become a member and join the squad today!

See you soon!

— Greg, K+S co-founder