OK, 2021, let's do this!

Welcome to a new beginning!

As we all know, 2020 was a full-on howler. Pandemic, social unrest, layoffs, fractured politics, etc.

K+S New York was postponed, then canceled (did we mention that?).

But this week marks the inauguration of a new era. As soccer fans, we are naturally optimistic about what the future will bring. And we have some big ideas for how to make this year really special.

After all, 2021 marks the 40th anniversary of the release of my all-time favorite soccer film: Victory. And we’re going to celebrate like it’s 1981!

Thanks for reading!
— Greg

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Yes, the festival will happen this year.

We are currently in the process of planning and laying out what the year will look like for K+S. At this point, it’s hard to say anything for certain, but here’s what we’re thinking:

  • 2-3 K+S virtual events between February and June

  • Film submission deadline: June 1

  • K+S New York 2021 in late July/August/September

Let us know what you think. If vaccinations go the right way and the world begins to open up again, would you be willing to attend an in-person film festival in late summer?

Have a film you’d like to submit? Go to the K+S FilmFreeway page. The submission password is SOCCERFILM.

The Martini Shot podcast (coming soon)

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There are so many great stories behind the scenes of the soccer film and culture world. Stories we want to tell.

So we are going to launch a podcast. We’re calling it The Martini Shot, named for the last shot of the day on a film set. The show will feature filmmakers, actors, writers, artists, and influencers — the people who make the soccer film and culture community so amazing. Maybe some players and coaches will join now and then to give their perspectives of the movie scene.

More info on The Martini Shot to come soon.

Watch some soccer films

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While the next festival is a ways off, don’t forget that the K+S Media Group website has lots of great soccer films to watch right now, including:

  • After the Cup: Sons of Sakhnin United — Amid the centuries-old strife that tears the Middle East asunder, can soccer provide a unique ray of hope? Watch now!

  • Football for Better or for Worse — FC Rosengård is one of the world's top women’s clubs. But that doesn’t mean everything is easy. Watch now!

  • Soka Afrika — The good, the bad, and the ugly of soccer immigration from Africa to Europe, as seen through the journeys of two young players. Watch now!

And we are working on a few new films which should come on line soon.

#SoccerFilm News

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The past year obviously affected much of the film industry. Despite that, soccer-film projects continue to make headlines.

  • Captains of Zaatari (film still above), directed by Ali El Arabi, was selected for the Sundance Film Festival. The feature film about two boys who use their soccer talent to escape a refugee camp will screen virtually Jan 31 and Feb 2. Get tickets…

  • The new doc Pelé is coming to Netflix on February 23. Watch the trailer…

  • A film about the NASL? Yes, please! Big-Time Soccer, made by Rachel Viollet, is in post-production and expected later this year. Watch the trailer…

  • Hannes Thor Halldorsson, Iceland’s World Cup goalkeeper, is a budding filmmaker. He made the reveal video for the Iceland federation’s new crest, and now he is working on his first feature film. Read more…

A few cool things to check out:

  • Women in Soccer — a new online networking community supporting and empowering women in the soccer industry

  • American Tifo — Filmmaker Maura Gladys’s newsletter about the people, places, and stories defining soccer culture in North America

Check out the trailer for Jason Sudeikis's upcoming soccer comedy "Ted Lasso"

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We all saw the hilarious short video that Jason Sudeikis did a while back for NBC Sports. In it, we were introduced to Ted Lasso, an American gridiron football coach who takes over as manager of an English soccer club.

The success of that short has led to a full series. Ted Lasso, the series, comes out on Apple TV+ on August 14, and it looks like a lot of fun.

Here’s the official trailer:

"Bull. Eagle. Dragon. Giant." The Iceland crest reveal video is as intense as you'd expect

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Around the world, Icelandic goalkeeper Hannes Thor Halldorsson is best known for stopping a Lionel Messi penalty at the 2018 World Cup. At home, he's also known for his filmmaking talents.

Which is why the Icelandic federation turned to Halldorsson to direct the reveal video for the national team's new crest. Not only is the crest very cool, but the short film is so intense and so loaded with Norse iconography and themes -- Bull. Eagle. Dragon. Giant. -- that we dare you to watch it and not feel confident against Messi from the penalty spot. We double dare you to watch the Icelandic version and not want to take on the whole world!

A soccer player that loves to make films is like a god for us. Hail Halldorsson!

"Still Defending" tells Drew Beckie's inspiring story of recovery

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Drew Beckie's story is familiar to American and Canadian soccer fans. From childhood to the pros, the story is full of constant movement, always chasing the dream from club to club, city to city, country to country, continent to continent.

But sometimes those familiar soccer dreams veer into unfamiliar territory because the body doesn't want to play along. For Beckie, that moment came when he was in Europe and was rushed to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with myocarditis caused by a viral infection.

Suddenly Beckie was told to stop playing for six months. No more trials in Finland. No more training on his own. No more anything. Otherwise, there was, as his doctor deadpanned, "an increased risk of dropping dead on the field."

What happened next is the epitome of what makes the soccer community so incredible and what a soccer player with a dream is capable of.

Still Defending is available to watch for free on the film's official website.

A soccer film triple-header and continuing the fight for social and racial justice

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It's a good week to be a soccer fan. The game continues to return, with MLS announcing its return, La Liga kicking off again, and the Premier League and Serie A coming back over the next few weeks.

It's also a good week for soccer films. First up, our featured film for #SoccerFilmFriday is Coach, the inspiring story of a woman's quest to overcome illogical roadblocks and sexism in the coaching ranks. Next is Foosballers, the greatest movie ever made about the table soccer, which is airing on ESPN tonight! And last is The Rhino Cup, which documents efforts to stop rhino poaching through the beautiful game.

And a reminder about K+S's ongoing efforts to support the fight against racism: Proceeds from all films streamed on the K+S film portal through the end of June will be donated to Campaign Zero, a non-profit dedicated to ending police violence. In addition, following up on last week's pledge to continue to fight against racism and for social justice, we are donating an additional $500 to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. It's not much, but we hope it helps.

Coach: A woman’s quest for more

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The short documentary Coach, which screened at K+S New York 2019, is the story of Tracy Hamm and her quest to earn the internationally renowned UEFA "A" coaching license.

Tracy, who currently coaches at UC Davis, first tried to pursue a top license from the U.S. Soccer federation but was obstructed by requirements that candidates seeking waivers to bypass lower certification levels must have played three years of professional soccer. Problem was, when she graduated from college in 2006, no professional women’s league existed in the United States.

Undeterred, she went to Europe and, despite the ingrained sexism in the game over there, she persisted. Her success is as inspiring as it is overdue.

Coach is available to watch for free throughout the month of June.

Foosballers: Now on ESPN

Big news for some good friends of K+S. Foosballers, Joe Heslinga's brilliant doc that won the Golden Whistle Award at K+S New York 2019, will air on ESPN tonight at 7PM ET.

Foosballers is a rollicking ride through the past, the present, and the future of everyone's favorite bar game. This is a can't miss film. More info...

The Rhino Cup: Can soccer save an endangered species?

"Why can't the greatest game save the greatest animal?"

We all know that soccer's impact goes well beyond the four lines and the stadiums and the TV. It goes into our hearts and into our communities.

The Rhino Cup is the story of a football league near Kruger National Park created with the sole purpose of reducing poaching of rhinos.

The Rhino Cup is available to stream for free right now.

Last week, we encouraged you all to check out and support several organizations focused on Black soccer culture or serving the Black community through the game we all love. This week, we're highlighting a selection of Black voices in the North American soccer scene to follow to keep listening and learning: