K+S makes Los Angeles debut with screening of "Club Frontera"

L.A., HERE WE COME!

K+S WILL DEBUT IN LOS ANGELES WITH THE SPECIAL SCREENING OF AWARD-WINNING FILM CLUB FRONTERA, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HUP

NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES (November 12, 2017) — Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival will host the first-ever soccer film festival in Southern California with a special screening of the award-winning documentary Club Frontera.

K+S Los Angeles 2017, presented by Humans Unlocking Potential, will take place on Friday, December 8, at the Plaza de Cultura y Artes in downtown LA.

“Ever since our founding in 2009, we have wanted to bring K+S to LA,” K+S co-founder Greg Lalas says. “It’s not only the home of the film industry, but also home to one of the most vibrant soccer communities in our country. Southern California is truly the melting pot for the modern American soccer scene, and it’s like ground zero for the USA-Mexico soccer rivalry. That’s why we knew Club Frontera had to be the film we showed when we debuted in LA.”

Directed by Chris Cashman, Club Frontera tells the story of Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles (Xolos), the Mexican club founded in 2007 that very quickly has had a dramatic impact on the border city of Tijuana. Players, fans, and political figures from both sides of the USA-Mexico border share their personal stories as “Xolos” make a run to the 2012 Liga MX Championship, unifying and rejuvenating the city. 

Club Frontera was awarded the Golden Whistle as the best film at K+S New York 2016. Director Chris Cashman is scheduled to appear at K+S Los Angeles 2017.

K+S Los Angeles 2017 is presented by Humans Unlocking Potential (HUP), a global business-development agency based in Los Angeles.

“Through my personal background in the Southern California soccer community, HUP has a strong connection with the impact of the sport in this region and the role it can play in breaking down cultural barriers,” HUP founder Sacha van der Most van Spijk says. “As HUP aims to work on projects that make a difference, we are excited that K+S has chosen us to kick off their presence in Los Angeles and Southern California.”

Additional programming, including special guests, will be announced soon.

K+S LOS ANGELES SOCIAL IMPACT

In keeping with our commitment to always leave a social footprint, K+S and HUP have chosen Home Field Advantage as the charitable partner for K+S Los Angeles.

Home Field Advantage is a nonprofit after-school community sports program focused on leadership development in Southern California. Home Field Advantage aids high school soccer players with a coaching education curriculum that provides them the opportunity to gain their USSF “F” license. They are then able to put their knowledge into action by coaching a 6- to 8-week after-school program at local elementary schools in their surrounding neighborhoods.

For more info on Home Field Advantage, visit hfa-sports.com.

"Inside a Volcano" wins the Golden Whistle for top film at K+S New York 2017

This time, Iceland won the whole thing.

We are thrilled to announce that Inside a Volcano: The Rise of Icelandic Football, directed by Sævar Guðmundsson, has won the 2017 Golden Whistle, awarded annually to the top film at the K+S Soccer Film Festival in New York, as determined by the K+S film panel.

The film, which screened on opening night at K+S New York 2017, depicts the development of soccer in Iceland that culminated in the tiny nation’s quarterfinal run at the 2016 Euros. Its insider's perspective on the Icelandic national team’s journey – from childhood dreams to the world stage – reverberated with a sold-out audience.

“Inside a Volcano celebrates what we love most about sport and film — the underdog seeking victory, a shared journey, a pursuit that has no boundaries,” says K+S co-founder and programming director Rachel Markus. “Sævar and his team got incredible insider access and showed a clear admiration for the players and their ambitions. And vice versa. Throughout the film, we get a rarely seen up-close glimpse at the personalities on this team that became a global phenomenon. It is intimate, unflinching, funny, and clearly worthy of this year’s Golden Whistle.”

Past Golden Whistle winners:
Club Frontera, 2016
Standard: Le Film, 2015
Scouting for Zebras, 2014
Mundial: The Highest Stakes, 2013
The Four-Year Plan, 2012
Soka Afrika, 2011

Thank You, New York

K+S New York 2017 – our 9th annual festival in NYC – was yet another incredible event. We couldn’t have done it without the help of our partners: Venezia FC, Herrick, Einstök Beer, America SCORES NY, New York Red Bulls, Societe Generale, Scandinavia House, and France Amerique.

We also received support from many people and entities within the local soccer community, including Youri Djorkaeff, the Cooligans, NYC Footy, Upper 90, and KICK. 

Most importantly, we thank you, the K+S supporters who come out to the films and make the festival great each year. This is a labor of love for us, and to see so many faces, both familiar and new, show up makes it all worth it.

Yours in soccer,
Rachel, Greg, Oliver + the rest of the K+S team

P.S. Keep an eye out for news about an upcoming #SoccerSocialHour later this summer.

K+S New York 2017 Speaker Series: Soccer-branding, comedy (!) & national identity

We are thrilled to announce the panelists, special guests, and friends who will join us for post-screening panel discussions each of the first three nights at K+S New York 2017, which kicks off on Tuesday, June 6. (No panel on Night 4 because we're throwing a closing-night party, in partnership with Venezia FC and Herrick! Woohoo!!!) 

"Branding the Beautiful Game: How soccer brands are changing the rules"

Dennis Crowley

Post-screening | Moderated by Gillian Kemmerer, Asset TV anchor & U.S. Head of Programming, anchor of Asset TV’s “Sportfolio

• David Bruce
  Vice president of brand and integrated marketing,Major League Soccer. In 2015, David shepherded a dramatic rebrand for MLS, which has received critical acclaim worldwide.
• Dennis Crowley
  Co-founder and executive chairman of Foursquare. Dennis (pictured) also the chairman of the Kingston Stockade Football Club, a semi-professional club that has been universally lauded for its strong brand.
• John Goldman
  Partner in Herrick litigation department and co-chair of the Herrick Sports Law Group. Goldman has advised on the landmark purchases of A.S. Roma, Bologna F.C. 1909, and Venezia F.C. He currently sits on the board of Venezia F.C., which has received plaudits for its innovative approach to promotion and branding.

"What's so funny about soccer? An evening with the Cooligans"

The Cooligans

Post-Screening | Moderated by Greg Lalas, K+S cofounder

• The Cooligans
  The Cooligans — Alexis Guerreros and Christian Polanco — are a pair of New York City comedians who love soccer. They want to bring laughter to the beautiful game. They’ll discuss what’s funny about the game and why humor is one of the unexpected keys to growing the sport in America.

"Who does a national team represent? Exploring soccer and identity"

Post-Screening

• Kely Nascimento-DeLuca
  Nascimento-DeLuca is a Brazilian filmmaker currently working on a documentary series about professional women soccer players at Santos FC, the club for whom her father, Pele, starred.
• Sebastian Alvarado
  A former professional in his native Sweden, Sebastian is of Chilean-Finnish descent and has a unique perspective on identity in soccer. Today, he lives in NYC and hosts the long-form interview podcast "Coffee & Football." 

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As always, we expect several Special Guests each night, from filmmakers to soccer icons.

And don’t forget to share a beer or two with us during and after the panels, courtesy of Einstök Beer Company, official beverage sponsor for K+S New York 2017.

Kicking + Screening reveals film lineup for K+S New York 2017 festival

They call soccer the world’s game. With good reason. It is played around the globe by people of every age, sex, nationality, etc. Its capacity to unite us under one passion is never-ending. It has no boundaries.

What better theme to explore at this year’s 9th annual Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival in New York? “No boundaries” meshes perfectly with what we feel is one of the most powerful aspects of the beautiful game — the ability to tear down walls and remove barriers of all kinds. Our four feature films this year reveal how soccer can break through boundaries geographical, psychological, political, and fanatical.

The festival runs from Tuesday, June 6, through Friday, June 9, at midtown Manhattan’s Scandinavia House. Over the four days, K+S New York 2017 will showcase stories that celebrate the beautiful game’s boundless capacity to surprise us and delight us.

Lineup + Schedule

Inside a Volcano: The Rise of Icelandic Football
Tuesday, June 6 | 7:00PM ET

• The inside story of Iceland’s golden generation, a group of young boys who grew up dreaming of shocking the world someday – and then made their dreams come true. (Info, trailer + tickets)
• Also screening: Maracanazo (short)

The 90-Minute War
Wednesday, June 7 | 7:00PM ET

• Finally, after more than a hundred years of bloodshed, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is about to be resolved -- by a soccer game. The winners stays in the Holy Land; loser leaves. Funny, sad, and politically incorrect, this dark comedy kicks the Middle East’s central conflict to the sidelines – where it belongs. (Info, trailer + tickets)

Les Bleus: Une autre histoire de France (Another Story of France)
Thursday, June 8 | 7:00PM ET

• Over the past two decades, the French national team has brought its country together in joy (see: World Cup, 1998), in confusion (see: Zidane, 2006), and in pain (see: World Cup 2010). Throughout, as this poignant doc shows, the team has forced its country to ask questions of itself -- about identity, diversity, and equality. (Info + tickets)

Celtic Soul
Friday, June 9 | 7:00PM ET

• Canadian actor and funny man Jay Baruchel has a lifelong dream: to watch a match at Celtic Park, home of world-famous Celtic FC. Ready to make it reality, he embarks on an epic journey through Canada, Ireland, and Scotland joined by new friend and soccer journalist Eoin O’Callaghan. (Info, trailer + tickets)
• Plus: Closing night party, presented by Venezia FC + Herrick

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Welcome, Venezia FC, Herrick, and Einstök Beer!

Kicking + Screening is thrilled to announce three new partners for K+S New York 2017:

• Venezia FC, the Italian soccer club that recently secured promotion to Italy’s Serie B, will co-present closing night at K+S New York 2017. Since coming under American ownership led by New York attorney Joe Tacopina, Venezia FC has received international attention as one of the most exciting brand stories in Italian football.
• Herrick’s Sports Law Group, which has helped forge many of the industry’s biggest transactions, partnerships and sports business concepts, will co-present of closing night at K+S New York 2017. Herrick counts among its clients soccer clubs D.C. United, Venezia FC, and New York City FC.
• Einstök Beer Company is the official beer of K+S New York 2017 and will provide complimentary beer during the festival. Located just 60 miles south of the Arctic Circle in the fishing port of Akureyri, Iceland, the Einstök Brewery taps the purest water on Earth to create its craft ales, including Icelandic White Ale, Icelandic Arctic Pale Ale, Icelandic Toasted Porter, and the new Wee Heavy Scotch Ale.

K+S and America SCORES NY to host a #SoccerSocialHour at Brooklyn Brewery

It's time to soccer socialize again!

It's been a while since our last K+S #SoccerSocialHour in New York, so we're going to do it bigger than ever.

To begin with, for this #SoccerSocialHour, we are joining forces with our 2017 charitable partner, America SCORES New York, who will simultaneously host their Spring Social fundraiser.

Second, the event will take place at Brooklyn Brewery, where your ticket will not only help fund America SCORES NY's great soccer and poetry programming, but also let you drink you unlimited tasty beers all evening. 

So join us! It's been too long since the NYC soccer community came together to socialize, drink beer, and help a good cause.  

EVENT DETAILS

• When: Saturday, April 8, 9:00PM-Midnight
• Where: Brooklyn Brewery, 79 North 11th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (MAP | Directions)
• Details: Open bar, raffle, performance by DJ Mario, snacks from Insomnia Cookies, popcorn from Nitehawk Cinema, and, of course, lots of soccer socializing!
• Tickets: $50 with discount code KANDS (regular price: $65)

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!