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

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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

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!

Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival and America SCORES New York partner in 2017

K+S and America SCORES New York to work together to support soccer culture and promote soccer programming in New York City

New year. New partner.

K+S Soccer Film Festival is excited to announce a new partnership with America SCORES New York, the leader in grassroots soccer programming in New York City.

“We couldn’t be more excited about partnering with America SCORES New York,” K+S cofounder and director Greg Lalas said. “The work they do in the community and in schools in the Big Apple, imparting a love of soccer and poetry, is right in line with what K+S believes in: that soccer is not just a game, but also a passion that has the power to bring us together.”

Over the course of 2017, K+S and America SCORES New York will cross-promote and support each other’s marketing efforts, including our flagship festival, K+S New York 2017, taking place June 6-9. Other efforts include regular K+S #SoccerSocialHour get-togethers, the SCORES Cup corporate tournament series, and America SCORES’ year-end Poetry SLAM! In addition, K+S and America SCORES New York will team up for the NYFEST soccer tournament on Saturday, April 22, in Brooklyn.

“We are honored and excited to be partnering with Kicking + Screening this year,” Shannon Schneeman, executive director of America SCORES New York, said. “We both believe that soccer is so much more than a sport; it builds community, teaches valuable life skills and creates future leaders. We hope that this partnership can help tell the amazing soccer stories developing right here in NYC, while bringing together soccer lovers from around the city!”

For more information about K+S, please visit:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

ABOUT KICKING + SCREENING
The Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival is the world's premier international festival dedicated solely to the beautiful game. K+S’s mission is to engage, connect, and inspire fans through the celebration and presentation of football/soccer culture. K+S festivals take place annually in New York and select cities around the globe each year.

ABOUT AMERICA SCORES NEW YORK
America SCORES New York strives to empower students in under-served communities using soccer, writing, creative expression and service-learning. With teamwork as the unifying value, America SCORES New York inspires youth to lead healthy lifestyles, be engaged students and become agents of change in their communities. Its 15 public elementary and middle school partners are located in West Harlem, Washington Heights and Brooklyn. Through these partnerships, the program impacts over 600 students each year, ages 5-18. School soccer teams are formed to create a sense of belonging and provide an opportunity to be physically active. The soccer teams also participate in writing workshops and their families are brought to together for soccer games, poetry slams and service projects to celebrate student achievement and build community. 

For more information about America SCORES New York, please visit:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

"Club Frontera" wins the 2016 Kicking + Screening Golden Whistle Award

The 2017 Kicking + Screening Golden Whistle, given annually to the best film at K+S Soccer Film Festival New York as determined by the K+S film board, has been awarded to Club Frontera, directed by Chris Cashman and produced by Eddie Cahan. 

Over the years, we've found that the best soccer films are never actually about "soccer" but about people: about challenges, identity, character, and inspiration. Club Frontera has all of that, and more. It has a great story and great storytelling. It celebrates how a game can bring pride, hope, and unity to a fractured city and that passion is not only boundless, but also borderless.

This year’s Golden Whistle is given in memoriam of Lena Kasambalides, our beloved friend and K+S team member who passed away suddenly in August. Her presence was deeply missed at this year's festival.

Lena (pictured below) brought an energy and vivaciousness to any space she entered, any conversation she joined. We are grateful that her love of the Beautiful Game brought her into our lives, and that we had several years to call her a colleague and, more importantly, a friend. She was a generous spirit and so giving with her time, her enthusiasm, and her dedication. We know she would have loved all the events this year, and would have been right there with us raising a glass of tequila to the Xolos.

Lena Kasambalides at the 2010 K+S Soccer Film Festival. 

Lena Kasambalides at the 2010 K+S Soccer Film Festival. 

Grant Wahl, Andres Flores to appear at K+S New York 2016

The 2016 Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival in New York is next week, running from September 13-16, and we are thrilled to announce several special guests who will join us for panel discussions and Q&As during the week.

Tuesday, September 13

Panel Discussion: "Soccer and the Culture of Design"

For more and more Americans, soccer has become the game of their life. Part of that is how the game is represented by a cool modern design, as seen in high-end soccer magazines, hand-designed sticker albums, independent fashion lines, and even fan Instagram accounts. This panel will mesh perfectly with the feature film on opening night, Stickers: Collecting Fever, which delves into the obsession with football sticker collecting. Panelists:  

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Wednesday, September 14

Q&A with director Chris Cashman, director of Club Frontera

The feature film on Night 2 is Club Frontera, about Tijuana-based Liga MX club Xolos and its unique connections to the soccer scene on both sides of the USA-Mexico border. Cashman will discuss the club, its incredible rise to glory, and how his film attempts to tell the story of one club and two countries.  

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Thursday, September 15

Q&A with El Salvador international Andres Flores

Uno: la historia de un gol tells the story of the lone goal scored by El Salvador in a 10-1 loss at the 1982. Flores, who has represented his country nearly 50 times and currently plays for the New York Cosmos, understands the power of that lone goal. He'll discuss the legacy of the 1982 team and how even in a losing effort there can be triumph.

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Friday, September 16

Closing night, as always, is just a party!

GET TICKETS NOW!