Magnus and Pelé: Birth Of A Legend
El Clásico
(Country: Norway, Iraq; Year: 2015; Director: Halkawt Mustafa; Writer: Anders Fagerholt, Halkawt Mustafa; Stars: Wrya Ahmed, Dana Ahmes, Kamaran Raoof, Rozhin Sharifi)
Alan and Gona are in love, but Gona's father won’t approve their union because Alan is a little person. So, Alan hits the road with his brother, traveling from their small Iraqi village to the Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid. The plan: meet Cristiano Ronaldo, and earn the blessing of Gona’s father.
Narrative. North American Premiere
Keepers Of The Game
(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: Judd Ehrlich)
Lacrosse is a sacred game for Native Americans, traditionally reserved for men. When a women's varsity team forms in upstate New York, they aim to be the first Native women’s team to take the championship title away from their rivals Massena High. But when their funding is slashed, and the indigenous community is torn, they find more than just the championship is on the line.
Documentary. World premiere.
Magnus
(Country: Norway; Year: 2016; Director: Benjamin Ree; Writer: Linn-Jeanethe Kyed, Benjamin Ree; Stars: Magnus Carlsen, Garry Kasparov, Viswanathan Anand)
Documenting the 'Mozart of Chess'.
Documentary. World premiere.
My Blind Brother
(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: Sophie Goodhart; Writer: Sophie Goodhart; Stars: Jenny Slate, Zoe Kazan, Adam Scott, Nick Kroll, Talia Tabin, Heidi Lewandowski, Charlie Hewson, Ryan Kearney, Jeffrey Grover, Peter Aylward, Allison Rowe, Kenny Santiago Marrero, Conner McVicker, Sofia Plass, Kellen Boyle)
Robbie is a champion blind athlete and local sports hero whose brother Bill is always overlooked, even though he runs every marathon by his side. When both fall for the same lady, Bill must decide if he will put himself second again, or finally stand up to his blind brother.
Narrative. World premiere.
Pelé: Birth Of A Legend
(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: Jeff Zimbalist, Michael Zimbalist; Writer: Jeff Zimbalist, Michael Zimbalist; Stars: Vincent D'Onofrio, Rodrigo Santoro, Diego Boneta, Colm Meaney, Seu Jorge, Tonya Cornelisse, André Mattos, Sven Holmberg, Seth Michaels, Kevin de Paula, Adriano Aragon, Vivi Devereaux, Milton Gonçalves, Ivan Orlic, Brandon Wilson)
Biopic charts the rise of the football legend from the slums of Brazil to become the youngest-ever World Cup winner, at the age of 17.
Narrative. World premiere.
My Blind Brother and Win!
Pistol Shrimps
(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: Brent Hodge; Writer: Brent Hodge; Stars: Angela Trimbur, Maria Blasucci, Molly Hawkey, Melissa Stetten, Jesse Thomas)
Documentary about women who play in an LA recreational basketball league, focusing on the Pistol Shrimps, a rag-tag group of actresses (including Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Recreation), comedians, musicians, and mothers who brought nationwide attention to the league that could.
Documentary. World premiere.
This Magic Moment
(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: Erin Leyden, Gentry Kirby)
In the mid-1990s, Orlando was the epicenter of excitement in the NBA. The young franchise, led by mega-stars Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway, beat Michael Jordan and the mighty Bulls en route to the 1995 NBA Finals. They lost to the Rockets that year but it was clear this team from Orlando was a dynasty in the making. But the Magic’s moment on top was never fully realized - a classic “what-could-have-been” story, where success came fast and big and then ‘poof’, the magic was gone.
Documentary. World premiere. Gala
Win!
(Country: US; Year: 2016; Director: Justin Webster; Writer: Justin Webster)
With inside access to the players, decision makers, and supporters who were central to the formation of New York City Football Club and its historic inaugural season, Win! offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a Major League Soccer team from the ground up, in the country’s most competitive sports market.
Documentary. World premiere.