OUR MISSION
To engage, connect, and inspire soccer and film enthusiasts through the celebration and presentation of soccer/football culture.
WHY A SOCCER FILM FESTIVAL?
Because soccer is the beautiful game.
Because soccer is the only thing that can broker a peace and launch a war, unite and divide a city, gather the world's attention and provide total anonymity, tell a thousand stories in 90 minutes or one story in a lifetime, focus our concentration, lose our selves, make us cry in joy and sadness and sometimes both, reveal the value of teamwork, the thrill of individual talent, the fruits of dedication, the cruelness of limitations.
Because it is universal.
Because film is the only medium that comes closest to capturing all of that.
Because we give ourselves to film, as we do a match: for 90 minutes, even when we know how the story ends, to see our favorite characters and perchance spy a moment or two of beauty, of brilliance.
HISTORY
Kicking & Screening Soccer Film Festival is an annual New York-based event that brings together soccer and film enthusiasts to celebrate the beautiful game as expressed on film. K&S provides a forum for filmmakers, artists, and writers to showcase their work, uniting the millions of fans that make soccer the international phenomenon that it is. K&S is dedicated to showcasing the best soccer films in the world to bring attention to this under-appreciated, emerging film genre. The festival's roots can be traced to April 2009, when a blind date between two fervent soccer and film fans quickly evolved -- in less than two years -- into a global festival celebrating soccer culture.
The success of the inaugural, sold-out K+S/New York festival, held in July 2009, spurred not only the highly successfully 2nd Annual K+S/ New York Festival in 2010, but also satellite festivals in Washington, DC, Houston, North Adams, Mass., and, most recently, Amsterdam. To date, the festival has presented seven U.S. premieres, a speaker series featuring respected bloggers, writers, and journalists from the soccer world, and a photo exhibit, all to the delight of thousands of festival attendees. In September 2011, K+S will return to Europe for the first K+S Football Film Festival in London.
THE KICKING + SCREENING TEAM
Founders
Rachel Markus
Rachel first conceived of Kicking + Screening while living and working in London, immersed in soccer culture. Always an avid fan of and participant in the beautiful game--she was a ruthless striker--Rachel studied film at NYU and has worked in the film industry since 2002.
Greg Lalas
A former MLS player who, for some reason, gave up a league minimum salary to get into journalism, Greg is now the editor-in-chief of MLSsoccer.com, the official website of Major League Soccer.
Staff
Annie Vinton, communications
A freelance writer with an extensive background in marketing and communications, Annie developed her passion for soccer while working for MLS's Colorado Rapids.
Noah Davis, communications
A writer and editor who reported from the 2006 and 2010 World Cup, Noah is right-footed but prefers left midfield because Jonathan Wilson told him to cut in from the wing on his strong foot. Also he finds playing there mitigates expectations.
Lena Kasambalides, esq., legal and business affairs
A rabid soccer fan and equally rabid entertainment lawyer, Lena is also the co-owner of Little Owl Music, a digital record label based in New York and Los Angeles.
Daren McKelvey, business development and strategy
Daren is a media producer, agent, and social entrepreneur who runs a startup that represents filmmakers, photographers, video production outfits, and interactive designers. He has been passionate about soccer since age 6.
Oliver Parman, marketing strategy and branding
A devoted player and fan of the beautiful game, Oliver brings more than 15 years experience in media/marketing and communications.
Contact: info@kickingandscreening.com
