Soccer comedy "Celtic Soul," starring Jay Baruchel, launches on VOD/streaming platforms on January 30

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The Kicking + Screening Media Group will launch its debut film, Celtic Soul, which screened at the 2017 K+S Soccer Film Festival in New York, on Tuesday, January 30.

Starring comedian Jay Baruchel and soccer journalist Eoin O’Callaghan, Celtic Soul follows the two friends on a quest to see Scottish club Celtic FC in Glasgow. Hilarious and poignant, it’s a story that spans 200 years of colorful history as the duo visit Jay’s ancestral home of Westport, Ireland, and then continue on to Glasgow, where they finally get to see Celtic FC play at their famed stadium, Celtic Park.

Celtic Soul, directed by Michael McNamara and produced by Markham Street Films, will be available in the United States on the following platforms: iTunes, Amazon Video, Vudu, GooglePlay, Sony Playstation, Comcast, Spectrum, Cox, Verizon, Frontier, Brighthouse, Dish, and DIRECTV.

PRE-ORDER CELTIC SOUL ON ITUNES!

“Markham Street Films is delighted that our film Celtic Soul will be part of the launch of the Kicking + Screening Media Group,” Markham Street Films Aaron Hancox and Judy Holm said. “Their experience and expertise are just what we were looking for to bring Celtic Soul to US audiences.”

Celtic Soul is the perfect film to start with,” K+S Media Group’s Rachel Markus said. “You don't have to love the club Celtic or even the sport of soccer to appreciate the friendship, the journey, and the humbling nature of making it to one of the game’s hallowed grounds.”

Celtic Soul is the first film to be distributed by the K+S MG. Additional films will become available via a new K+S Media Group streaming channel, including previous festival favorites Anderson Monarchs and Argentina Fútbol Club.

Watch the Trailer for Celtic Soul below!

It's Gonna Be Epic: K+S #SoccerSocialHour on Tuesday, 1/23, at Paulaner in NYC

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Everyone's favorite New York soccer meet-up -- the K+S #SoccerSocialHour -- is back. And it's gonna be epic!

On Tuesday, January 23, from 6:30-9:00 PM ET, we will take over one of our favorite bars in New York, Paulaner on Bowery, for the 10th #SoccerSocialHour since we kicked off the networking series back in 2015.

We'll have drink specials, prizes, and more, including details on the new K+S Media Group and the upcoming VOD premiere of the comedy Celtic Soul. So come join us to hang out, have a beer, and talk soccer with us and the coolest group of soccer fanatics around.  

DETAILS
Event: The 10th K+S #SoccerSocialHour
Location: Paulaner on Bowery, 265 Bowery New York, NY (MAP)
Date: Tuesday, January 23
Time: 6:30-9:00PM ET

K+S makes Los Angeles debut with screening of "Club Frontera"

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L.A., HERE WE COME!

K+S WILL DEBUT IN LOS ANGELES WITH THE SPECIAL SCREENING OF AWARD-WINNING FILM CLUB FRONTERA, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HUP

NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES (November 12, 2017) — Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival will host the first-ever soccer film festival in Southern California with a special screening of the award-winning documentary Club Frontera.

K+S Los Angeles 2017, presented by Humans Unlocking Potential, will take place on Friday, December 8, at the Plaza de Cultura y Artes in downtown LA.

“Ever since our founding in 2009, we have wanted to bring K+S to LA,” K+S co-founder Greg Lalas says. “It’s not only the home of the film industry, but also home to one of the most vibrant soccer communities in our country. Southern California is truly the melting pot for the modern American soccer scene, and it’s like ground zero for the USA-Mexico soccer rivalry. That’s why we knew Club Frontera had to be the film we showed when we debuted in LA.”

Directed by Chris Cashman, Club Frontera tells the story of Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles (Xolos), the Mexican club founded in 2007 that very quickly has had a dramatic impact on the border city of Tijuana. Players, fans, and political figures from both sides of the USA-Mexico border share their personal stories as “Xolos” make a run to the 2012 Liga MX Championship, unifying and rejuvenating the city. 

Club Frontera was awarded the Golden Whistle as the best film at K+S New York 2016. Director Chris Cashman is scheduled to appear at K+S Los Angeles 2017.

K+S Los Angeles 2017 is presented by Humans Unlocking Potential (HUP), a global business-development agency based in Los Angeles.

“Through my personal background in the Southern California soccer community, HUP has a strong connection with the impact of the sport in this region and the role it can play in breaking down cultural barriers,” HUP founder Sacha van der Most van Spijk says. “As HUP aims to work on projects that make a difference, we are excited that K+S has chosen us to kick off their presence in Los Angeles and Southern California.”

Additional programming, including special guests, will be announced soon.

K+S LOS ANGELES SOCIAL IMPACT

In keeping with our commitment to always leave a social footprint, K+S and HUP have chosen Home Field Advantage as the charitable partner for K+S Los Angeles.

Home Field Advantage is a nonprofit after-school community sports program focused on leadership development in Southern California. Home Field Advantage aids high school soccer players with a coaching education curriculum that provides them the opportunity to gain their USSF “F” license. They are then able to put their knowledge into action by coaching a 6- to 8-week after-school program at local elementary schools in their surrounding neighborhoods.

For more info on Home Field Advantage, visit hfa-sports.com.

"Inside a Volcano" wins the Golden Whistle for top film at K+S New York 2017

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This time, Iceland won the whole thing.

We are thrilled to announce that Inside a Volcano: The Rise of Icelandic Football, directed by Sævar Guðmundsson, has won the 2017 Golden Whistle, awarded annually to the top film at the K+S Soccer Film Festival in New York, as determined by the K+S film panel.

The film, which screened on opening night at K+S New York 2017, depicts the development of soccer in Iceland that culminated in the tiny nation’s quarterfinal run at the 2016 Euros. Its insider's perspective on the Icelandic national team’s journey – from childhood dreams to the world stage – reverberated with a sold-out audience.

“Inside a Volcano celebrates what we love most about sport and film — the underdog seeking victory, a shared journey, a pursuit that has no boundaries,” says K+S co-founder and programming director Rachel Markus. “Sævar and his team got incredible insider access and showed a clear admiration for the players and their ambitions. And vice versa. Throughout the film, we get a rarely seen up-close glimpse at the personalities on this team that became a global phenomenon. It is intimate, unflinching, funny, and clearly worthy of this year’s Golden Whistle.”

Past Golden Whistle winners:
Club Frontera, 2016
Standard: Le Film, 2015
Scouting for Zebras, 2014
Mundial: The Highest Stakes, 2013
The Four-Year Plan, 2012
Soka Afrika, 2011

Thank You, New York

K+S New York 2017 – our 9th annual festival in NYC – was yet another incredible event. We couldn’t have done it without the help of our partners: Venezia FC, Herrick, Einstök Beer, America SCORES NY, New York Red Bulls, Societe Generale, Scandinavia House, and France Amerique.

We also received support from many people and entities within the local soccer community, including Youri Djorkaeff, the Cooligans, NYC Footy, Upper 90, and KICK

Most importantly, we thank you, the K+S supporters who come out to the films and make the festival great each year. This is a labor of love for us, and to see so many faces, both familiar and new, show up makes it all worth it.

Yours in soccer,
Rachel, Greg, Oliver + the rest of the K+S team

P.S. Keep an eye out for news about an upcoming #SoccerSocialHour later this summer.

K+S New York 2017 Speaker Series: Soccer-branding, comedy (!) & national identity

We are thrilled to announce the panelists, special guests, and friends who will join us for post-screening panel discussions each of the first three nights at K+S New York 2017, which kicks off on Tuesday, June 6. (No panel on Night 4 because we're throwing a closing-night party, in partnership with Venezia FC and Herrick! Woohoo!!!) 

"Branding the Beautiful Game: How soccer brands are changing the rules"

Dennis Crowley

Dennis Crowley

Post-screening | Moderated by Gillian Kemmerer, Asset TV anchor & U.S. Head of Programming, anchor of Asset TV’s “Sportfolio

  • David Bruce
    Vice president of brand and integrated marketing,Major League Soccer. In 2015, David shepherded a dramatic rebrand for MLS, which has received critical acclaim worldwide.
  • Dennis Crowley
    Co-founder and executive chairman of Foursquare. Dennis (pictured) also the chairman of the Kingston Stockade Football Club, a semi-professional club that has been universally lauded for its strong brand.
  • John Goldman
    Partner in Herrick litigation department and co-chair of the Herrick Sports Law Group. Goldman has advised on the landmark purchases of A.S. Roma, Bologna F.C. 1909, and Venezia F.C. He currently sits on the board of Venezia F.C., which has received plaudits for its innovative approach to promotion and branding.

"What's so funny about soccer? An evening with the Cooligans"

The Cooligans

The Cooligans

Post-Screening | Moderated by Greg Lalas, K+S cofounder

  • The Cooligans
    The Cooligans — Alexis Guerreros and Christian Polanco — are a pair of New York City comedians who love soccer. They want to bring laughter to the beautiful game. They’ll discuss what’s funny about the game and why humor is one of the unexpected keys to growing the sport in America.

"Who does a national team represent? Exploring soccer and identity"

Post-Screening

  • Kely Nascimento-DeLuca
    Nascimento-DeLuca is a Brazilian filmmaker currently working on a documentary series about professional women soccer players at Santos FC, the club for whom her father, Pele, starred.
  • Sebastian Alvarado
    A former professional in his native Sweden, Sebastian is of Chilean-Finnish descent and has a unique perspective on identity in soccer. Today, he lives in NYC and hosts the long-form interview podcast "Coffee & Football." 

As always, we expect several Special Guests each night, from filmmakers to soccer icons.

And don’t forget to share a beer or two with us during and after the panels, courtesy of Einstök Beer Company, official beverage sponsor for K+S New York 2017.