"The Home Game" & "Oor Wally" win 2024 K+S Golden Whistle awards

The K+S Golden Whistles are awarded to the feature and short films that epitomize the joyful soccer values of K+S and truly affect our festival goers. This year, the Golden Whistles are presented to:

FEATURE: The Home Game

  • Directed by Smari Gunn & Logi Sigursveinsson, this Icelandic film about a man on a mission to bring an FA Cup game to a tiny fishing village had the entire festival cheering for the club, Reynir Hellisandur.

  • The Home Game is still on the festival circuit now, so keep your eye out.

SHORT: Oor Wally

  • Martin Lennon’s 12-minute doc on Wally the Warrior, the mascot for Scottish fourth-tier club Stenhousemuir F.C., was both hilarious and touching. A perfect encapsulation of the passion and absurdity of smalltown lower-league football.

  • Watch it here.

Past Golden Whistle winners:

Thank you, New York! Reliving the best of K+S New York 2024

K+S New York 2024 is in the books. What a tremendous event!

Big shouts to everyone who joined us in person for our first festival at Kyle Martino’s Football Cafe. Cheers to everyone who followed along on our social channels.

Seriously, we had such a blast. Here are a few highlights that stuck out to us:

  • “Soccer in America is a blank slate.” The opening night panel discussion about soccer & creativity delved into many topics. Our favorite was the belief that our game – especially in the United States – is uniquely positioned for artistic representations in film, fashion, photography, and more.

  • Art exhibits. The exclusive exhibitions of works by Alfredo Montes and Chris Payne brought the panel’s supposition to life right before our eyes. Through color and design, they showed some of the interesting ways the game is expressed.  

Closing night dance party. We invented a new activity: kickabout dancing. While the DJ spun old soul records, someone rolled a ball out on the dance floor and a Maradona biopic played on the big screen. It was the kind of brilliant improv moment that always seems to happen at K+S..

  • Chocolate soccer balls… so many chocolate soccer balls.

  • Cantona jersey giveaway: Every registered attendee of K+S New York 2024 is eligible to win a Cantona #7 Manchester United jersey, courtesy of Peter Holland founder of One United USA, the MUFC supporters group.

  • Great partners: Able Made, MUNDIAL, Athens Women’s Football Summit, Sportsology Group, and NYFEST.

  • And great films. From opening night’s history lesson about the L.A. Wolves in the 1960s to Eric Cantona’s dramatic celebration of his former club, Manchester United, we had one of the best film lineups K+S had ever scene. Thank you to all the filmmakers for their storytelling and passion.

We’ll see you all next year!

Reflecting on 15 years of soccer films and soccer friends

As we gear up for year 15 of the Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival this week, I thought I’d share a few thoughts about our story.

Here’s the truth: Fifteen years ago, my Kicking + Screening cofounder and friend Rachel Markus and I didn’t know what we were getting into when we decided, basically on a whim, to put on a soccer film festival.

We were younger then, with more vim and vinegar and less complicated lives. We just wanted to throw a party for soccer fans in New York and share some of the great soccer films we knew existed that had never found their audience.

That first festival in 2009 was magical. We hosted opening night at a fancy French restaurant called Opia on New York’s Upper East Side. It was owned by renowned restaurateur Fred Lesort, whom I had known from the downtown NYC rec league soccer circuit. We showed Stephane Meurier’s brilliant “Les Yeux dans les Bleus,” an insider’s view of the 1998 World Cup-winning French team. Everyone ate delicious French cuisine and drank wine. Not your typical soccer experience.

We mixed it up on other nights at K+S New York 2009. We showed FC Barcelona Confidential at a Spanish cultural center, In the Hands of the Gods at an Irish pub, and our first screening-room event — Once in a Lifetime at the Tribeca Grand Hotel. This was DIY all the way, from building the website to decorating venues to taking tickets, but it showed us something, namely, that there was an audience for these films and a craving for this kind of soccer culture.

Since then, we’ve been on a wondrous journey.

We’ve organized K+S festivals in some very expected places, like London, Liverpool, Rio de Janeiro, and Amsterdam. And we’ve done them in some very unexpected places, like Abu Dhabi, Kerala (India), and North Adams, Massachusetts. We’ve shown more than 150 films and screened probably 10 times that in order to find the best ones.

We’ve welcomed a steady stream of soccer luminaries, including everyone from French World Cup star Youri Djorkaeff to fashionista Simon Doonan, NY Cosmos legend Shep Messing to foosball world champion Tony Spredeman. More than once, soccer film historian Jan Tilman Schwab joined us, as did soccer philanthropist Ethan Zohn. Then there was that time that the late Chuck Blazer, disgraced former head of Concacaf, showed up and held court in the corner of the long-gone Tribeca Cinemas.

A frequent special guest of K+S was the journalist and author Grant Wahl. He promoted our events on his channels and participated in multiple panels. Even after his untimely and tragic death in 2022, he remains a spiritual friend of the festival.

When we launched in 2009, there was only one other film festival dedicated to soccer films — the brilliant 11mm Film Festival in Germany. Today, there are more than a dozen festivals that we know about, from Brazil to Bilbao. We like to think we played a role in building this small, but vibrant, soccer film industry.

Now, as we get ready to celebrate our 15th year with K+S New York 2024, we can reflect and admit that this K+S journey hasn’t always been easy. It’s had its ups and downs, it’s good and its bad.

But for Rachel and me — and Oliver, who joined not only the K+S family, but also married Rachel — and all the other people who have helped us along the way, it’s been worth it. There are amazingly talented filmmakers telling unique and memorable stories about this game. These stories deserve to be told. And heard or seen, and we have helped do that.

Most importantly, we’ve made lifelong friends with soccer people in our hometown and around the world. That’s the best K+S story of all.

Rachel (left) and I watch a film at K+S New York 2010.

The Art of Soccer: Panels and Art Exhibitions at K+S New York 2024

NEW YORK (March 1, 2024) — The intersection of soccer and art goes well beyond film.

This is the central theme of the additional programming taking place during the 2024 Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival, March 14-16 at Football Cafe in New York City.

Here is what’s happening:  

“Soccer & the Creative Mind” Panel

Thursday, March 14

The beautiful game has mesmerized creative minds since its inception. Everyone from Albert Camus to Elton John to Peter Max has found inspiration in the game. The culture of the game today, combined with new avenues for communicating, seems even more conducive to expressing soccer through creativity. In “Soccer and the Creative Mind,” we will explore the intersection of soccer and creativity through the lens of fashion, film, and photography.

  • Suzanne McKenzie, founder, ABLE MADE

  • Owen Blackhurst, filmmaker and co-founder, MUNDIAL

  • Pablo Bayona Sapag, co-founder & editor-in-chief, CLUBELEVEN

“For the Love of Crests” Exhibition

Throughout the festival

A new art exhibition featuring the work of globally renowned football brand designer Chris Payne.

  • He said it: “Crests have a long history in football, but traditionally people have not viewed them as art,” Payne said. “That’s changed a lot over the past few years. Crests are art. They tell a story of the club, their community, and what the people at the club think is important. I’m thrilled to have some of my work showcased in an exhibition like this that helps elevate the artistic perception of crests and crest design.”

“Formations” Poster Exhibition

Throughout the festival

A custom collection of posters inspired by the films in K+S New York 2024, created by the artist Alfredo Montes, a.k.a., Alfie Aleman. The posters draw relation to the films by highlighting each club's relevant on-field formation supported by elements of its brand/team identity or specific moment in time.

About the artist: Working under the pseudonym Alfie Aleman, LA-based artist Alfredo Montes creates soccer-themed work inspired by the history of the sport, mixed with elements of street art and pop culture. In addition to creating art, Alfredo operates Double A Studio, a creative studio and consultancy launched with the simple intention of working on soccer-centric lifestyle projects from commissioned art and photography to curated experiences and brand collaborations.

K+S 2024 FILM LINEUP

UK | 28m | Created by FootballCo, MUNDIAL & Wolves Studio

In 1967 — a decade before Pelé, 30 years before MLS, and 56 years before Messi — the United Soccer Association resurrected professional soccer in the United States. The 12-team league, made up of transplanted international clubs, including English side Wolves, was in many ways the birth of the modern American soccer movement. It changed everything. 

Also: 

  • Captains of Ukraine (Ukraine) — A poignant exploration of the difficult choices and circumstances that turn athletes into soldiers.

  • Sacred Turf (UK) — Paying homage to everyone behind the scenes. 

  • The Lost Dreams (Iran) — Four sisters of Afghan origin struggle to survive, inspired by their love of football and Cristiano Ronaldo.

  • Oor Wally (Scotland) — The life and times of a Scottish football mascot. 

Iceland | 1h 19m | Directed by Smari Gunn & Logi Sigursveinsson

Twenty-five years ago, Vidar Gylfason created a full, regulation soccer pitch in the tiny Icelandic fishing village of Hellissandur (population: 369). It was his real-life “field of dreams.” But no team ever set foot on it. Now, Vidar’s son Kari is determined to bring soccer glory to Hellissandur and fulfill his father’s original dream. It won’t be easy, but with typical Icelandic pluck and humor, anything is possible!

Also:

  • Manikin of the Match (UK) — What happens when a wooden manikin plays goalkeeper?

  • Alley of Dreams (Italy) — Supporting Napoli when they win a Serie A title requires more than just cheering for a group of street urchins. 

UK | 1h 30m | Directed by Mat Hodgson

The epic story of a football club, a city, and a player whose unwavering belief in both helped lift them to unimaginable heights. Co-written and featuring the legendary Eric Cantona, this film explores all that makes Manchester United unique and dominant even in down years. 

Also: 

  • Lucy (Italy) — A hip hop recounting of Brazilian women’s legend Maria Lucia Feitosa.

  • The End of the Game (Argentina) — The sights and sounds in the hours before and after the 2022 World Cup Final. 

Kicking + Screening 2024 announces soccer film lineup for 15th year in New York City

NEW YORK (January 19, 2024) — The 2024 Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival returns for its 15th year in New York City, featuring stories about unique “soccer journeys” with the power to transform places, people, and passions.

The 2024 festival lineup is headlined by Eric Cantona’s Manchester United biography, The United Way, and the nostalgic documentary When L.A. Wolves Conquered the U.S.A., about the 1960s league that revived professional soccer in America and set the stage for today’s exploding soccer scene. 

In all, 11 films — both features and shorts — will screen across the festival’s three days, from Thursday, March 14, through Saturday, March 16.

  • “The soccer film scene is exploding right now, and, as always, we are thrilled to bring some of the best to fans in New York,” said K+S cofounder Rachel Markus. “The transformative power of soccer really comes to life in this year’s lineup, showing us how one person, one moment, or one idea can change not only the game, but also the culture within which the game exists. It’s thrilling and inspiring, and we believe the amazing NYC soccer community will love these stories.” 

Additional programming: Panel discussions, special guests, and cultural events will be announced in the coming weeks. 

New venue: K+S 2024 will take place at Football Cafe, a new soccer cultural center located in the heart of New York’s downtown soccer scene. Football Cafe was founded by former USMNT and MLS player Kyle Martino and has quickly become an integral part of the city’s footy culture.

  • "Football Cafe is all about community, and creating a space for everyone to gather and enjoy what we all love the most: the beautiful game,” said Kyle Martino, founder of Football Cafe. “Partnering with our friends at Kicking + Screening, the premier soccer culture-focused film festival, in our NYC location is an exciting way for us to relaunch our brand and officially reopen our doors to our beloved community. We can't wait!"

K+S 2024 Lineup

UK | 28m | Created by FootballCo, MUNDIAL & Wolves Studio

In 1967 — a decade before Pelé, 30 years before MLS, and 56 years before Messi — the United Soccer Association resurrected professional soccer in the United States. The 12-team league, made up of transplanted international clubs, including English side Wolves, was in many ways the birth of the modern American soccer movement. It changed everything. 

Also: 

  • Captains of Ukraine (Ukraine) — A poignant exploration of the difficult choices and circumstances that turn athletes into soldiers.

  • Sacred Turf (UK) — Paying homage to everyone behind the scenes. 

  • The Lost Dreams (Iran) — Four sisters of Afghan origin struggle to survive, inspired by their love of football and Cristiano Ronaldo.

  • Oor Wally (Scotland) — The life and times of a Scottish football mascot. 

Iceland | 1h 19m | Directed by Smari Gunn & Logi Sigursveinsson

Twenty-five years ago, Vidar Gylfason created a full, regulation soccer pitch in the tiny Icelandic fishing village of Hellissandur (population: 369). It was his real-life “field of dreams.” But no team ever set foot on it. Now, Vidar’s son Kari is determined to bring soccer glory to Hellissandur and fulfill his father’s original dream. It won’t be easy, but with typical Icelandic pluck and humor, anything is possible!

Also:

  • Manikin of the Match (UK) — What happens when a wooden manikin plays goalkeeper?

  • Alley of Dreams (Italy) — Supporting Napoli when they win a Serie A title requires more than just cheering for a group of street urchins. 

UK | 1h 30m | Directed by Mat Hodgson

The epic story of a football club, a city, and a player whose unwavering belief in both helped lift them to unimaginable heights. Co-written and featuring the legendary Eric Cantona, this film explores all that makes Manchester United unique and dominant even in down years. 

Also: 

  • Lucy (Italy) — A hip hop recounting of Brazilian women’s legend Maria Lucia Feitosa.

  • The End of the Game (Argentina) — The sights and sounds in the hours before and after the 2022 World Cup Final.