Blowing the final whistle on K+S New York 2021

Thank you, everyone — festival attendees, filmmakers, partners, friends — for making K+S New York 2021 a very special event.

After last year’s Covid hiatus, it felt great to be back among the soccer film community, watching films, sharing stories, and throwing back a few beers. The virtual portion of the festival, our first ever, was also interesting and a great experience.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2021 Golden Whistles:

  • The End of the Storm (in-person, feature)

  • Cascarita (in-person, short)

  • Keeper (virtual, feature)

  • Maradona’s Legs (virtual, short)

We hope you enjoyed it all, too.

But wait,…the fun isn’t over.

Now that the festival is done, we are focused on what comes next. We have a full calendar of upcoming things:

  • release of Playing for Peace on the K+S streaming platform (watch now)

  • release of The End of the Storm on VOD platforms, including iTunes and Amazon Video (Nov 2)

  • screening Casuals: The Story of the Legendary Terrace Fashion in other cities (fall and winter)

  • release of The Dream Coach on the K+S streaming platform (mid Nov)

  • release of Argentina Fútbol Club on the K+S streaming platform (early Dec)

  • potential launch of K+S and soccer film-related apparel (winter)

It’s going to be an exciting few months for K+S and for soccer films.

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"Keeper" and "Maradona's Legs" win 2021 Virtual Golden Whistle awards

Two of the leading films in the virtual portion of K+S New York 2021 are taking home some hardware.

The feature Keeper and the short Maradona’s Legs have won the 2021 Virtual Golden Whistle awards.

Keeper, directed by Johan Kramer, explores the loneliness and excitement of soccer’s most unique position.

“Keeper is such a unique film — a kind of psychological examination for what really goes on between the posts and within the minds of the people who guard that sacred space,” says K+S cofounder and head of programming Rachel Markus. “Director Johan Kramer seeks to capture and, in turn, celebrate the enigmatic existence of the goalkeeper.”

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Maradona’s Legs, directed by and Firas Khoury, is the heart-warming story of two boys desparate to complete their sticker album. All they need is the sticker with Argentina legend Diego Maradona’s legs.

“In Maradona’s Legs, we all connect with the emotional journey of the two young fans and their quest,” says Markus. “We’ve all, at one time or another, been obsessed with something that we think will fulfill our wildest dreams. And we all eventually come to the realize that there is a tough decision involved in that dream, one that will define us in many ways. That’s what makes this film so powerful.”

K+S congratulates both films and filmmakers!

What do you think? We’d love to hear from you about which films you liked and why. Email us at info@kickingandscreening.com.

"The End of the Storm" and "Cascarita" win 2021 Golden Whistle awards

After thrilling audiences at K+S New York 2021, the feature film The End of the Storm and the short film Cascarita have won the 2021 Golden Whistle awards.

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The End of the Storm, directed by James Erskine, provides an inside look at Liverpool FC’s Premier League-winning season, with amazing exclusive access to famed manager Jurgen Klopp.

“The End of the Storm is, in many ways, a traditional behind-the-scenes documentary about a sports team, but it’s also so much more,” said K+S cofounder and head of programming Rachel Markus. “Jurgen Klopp is such a unique character in football and in soccer films. It’s how he both imparts his love of the game to his players and internalizes the passion of the city and fans.

You don’t have to be a Liverpool fan or even a soccer fan to love this story of a team triumphing during one of the most challenging moments in modern world history.”

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Cascarita, directed by Jimena Barrera, is the heart-warming story about a wind-up toy playing pickup with a group of battery-powered toys.

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“You can’t help but be drawn to this creative, spirited, and innovative short,” Markus said. “Jimena Barrera captures and reveals so much in just a few minutes on screen. And the underlying message about the limits of technology and the power of ingenuity really resonate, given the ongoing struggle against climate change.”

Congratulations to both films and filmmakers!

Check out the virtual Golden Whistle winners.

What do you think? We’d love to hear from you about which films you liked and why. Email us at info@kickingandscreening.com.

Here's the K+S Soccer Film Festival virtual screening lineup

As part of this year’s festival, we have inaugurated a virtual portion of the festival.

For our first year, we have officially selected nine films, both features and shorts, to be part of our “Kicking + Streaming” collection.

  • The virtual selections will be available to stream from Saturday, October 16, through Sunday, October 24.

  • Feature are available a la carte for $4.99.

  • Shorts are available as a collection for $9.99.

Virtual Selections - Features

Another Way to Build Europe

An exploration of the positive impact one man’s work can have on long-standing social inequality in the oldest and poorest slums of Seville, Spain. Jorge Morillo, a die-hard Real Betis fan, works with local soccer luminaries to bridge the socio-economic gap faced by the Roma community living on the margins of Sevillian society. Morillo is determined that love and football can overcome any challenge. Directed by Francisco Campos Barba.

Five Games Older

A youth soccer team, made up of 12- and 13-year-olds, prepares for a tournament: 5 games in 10 days. Already at an age of change, fear, resentment, and discovery, now they enter a period that will affect them forever. They will get older… 5 games older. Directed by Ivan Zimin.

Hiding the Sun

During the 2019-20 Serie A season, players Mario Balotelli, Romelu Lukaku, and Kalidou Koulibaly were subjected to racial abuse. This short documentary investigates not only these incidents, but also broader issues of race and racism in Italy as seen through the lens of calcio. Directed by Elisabetta Zengaro.

Keeper — In football, most attention goes to the attackers and the strikers. The goalkeepers are often afterthoughts. By following five peculiar and very different goalkeepers, this films lets the audience in on the excitement that is waiting alone (in a far too big goal) for the inevitable rush at goal. Directed by Johan Kramer.

Pojkdrömmen (“Pro In Africa”) — The stories about how African players look for glory in Europe are plenty. Pojkdrömmen is this story in reverse, as 30-year-old Emil decides, after a 10-year hiatus, to make a comeback and sets his sights on becoming the first white player in the Kenyan Premier League. Directed by Emil Moberg Lundén.

Collection of Shorts - Virtual Selections

Brazil's Forbidden Shirt — The soccer passion of Brazil’s people is unmatched. But look closer, and you see that not everyone is invited. Inherent homophobia and exclusion of LGBTQ+ people from the game has led to a phenomenon: the shunning of a particular jersey number. Directed by João Pedro Castro, Diego Mello, Rafael de Moura Machado, and Igor França.

Girls Talk About Football — What it is like to be a girl in a boys world? Six girls share their own experiences playing woman’s football in a male-dominated sport. Directed by Paola Sorrentino.

Goal (Sandra) — Sandra lives in Peru and is a passionate football player. At age 13 she has to overcome gender discrimination in her every day life, but she does this with an amazing & inspiring attitude. Directed by Karoline Pelikan.

Goalie — A foosball table goalkeeper sees all the action happen on the other side of the field. In frustration he breaks away and tries to show his team and the other team that he is meant for more than just a goalkeeper. But he quickly realizes his position is an extremely vital part of the team. Directed by Maarten Lemmens.

Maradona’s Legs — During the 1990 World Cup, two young Palestinian boys are looking for “Maradona’s legs,” the last missing sticker that they need in order to complete their World Cup sticker album and win a free Atari. Directed by Firas Khoury.

Playing for Peace — The story of Israeli club HaPoel Be’er Sheva and its new owner, Alona Barkat, who installed a vision of tolerance and acceptance that helped club to its first championship in 40 years. Directed by Arielle Thomas Sabol.

Watch the Collection of Shorts now

K+S partners with NY's Downtown United Soccer Club

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On Tuesday, Kicking + Screening and Downtown United Soccer Club became teammates.

K+S and DUSC, a longtime competitive youth club based in New York City, joined forces to help promote each other and continue to provide top-notch experiences for New York’s soccer community.

As part of the partnership, DUSC is promoting K+S New York 2021 all this week. The K+S logo will appear on rec league jerseys this winter. K+S will also provide several items for DUSC’s annual fundraising auction and support its outreach program on the Lower East Side.

“We are thrilled to work with DUSC to continue to build the local soccer community,” K+S cofounder Greg Lalas said. “DUSC has, for nearly 40 years, provided the joy of the game to children, and we are especially excited to explore with them ways to further reach out to underserved kids in our hometown.”

For more on DUSC, visit DUSC.net.