K+S Filmmaker Interview: "Boniek et Platini" director Jeremie Laurent on the "insane part of football"

In the short film Boniek et Platini, two young Polish boys use soccer to take on the cops and battle martial law in the backdrop of the 1982 World Cup.

Director Jeremie Laurent chatted with Kicking + Screening about making the film, the difficulty of creating a "football" movie, and why France might win the World Cup.

Boniek et Platini screens at Kicking + Screening on Wednesday, May 23. Get tickets here.

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 K+S: What was the inspiration for making Boniek et Platini?

As a huge fan of football and history, I wanted to bring together both in order to show the football (and the sport in general) as a way to resist in world in conflict. Nowadays, football is synonym of big money: Who’s going to be the next most expensive player of the world? The spirit is slightly disappearing, and I think it is really important to react with this insane part of football.

K+S: What’s the most difficult part of making a “football" movie? Would you even consider Boniek et Platini a football movie?

I think Boniek et Platini can be considered as a football movie, yes, particularly for the French/Polish audience. This 82' World Cup in Spain was epic for both countries.

The most difficult part is how to show the sport? Where do I put my camera? Inside or outside the field? I watched a lot of football movies and every time the camera was inside, with the players. It immediately disturbed me.

I think we are conditioned to watch football with the multicam sports productions aesthetic: one master shot and different close up shots with long-focus lens. As soon as we are inside the field, it becomes unrealistic. That’s why I decided to shoot the game using the same shots of multicam; to stay outside, not enter the camera in the field and perturb the players.

K+S: The World Cup is this summer. Who ya got?

The French team has great young players. Many of them play in great clubs. We have a good chance to reach the semifinals probably. But the team lacks a leader, so…

K+S Filmmaker Interview: How a night of beers led to a Latin American soccer adventure

In American Fútbol, four friends travel through Latin America on their way to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The group covers more than 7,000 miles, meeting people along the way and finding the heart of soccer in the Americas.

Kicking + Screening talked with directors Peter Karl and Petar Madjarac about the film.

The world premiere of American Fútbol is at Kicking + Screening on Friday, May 25. Get tickets here.

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K+S: What was the inspiration for American Fútbol? It feels like the kind of thing that four friends all over the world discuss doing over beers but never actually make it happen.

It pretty much happened just like that, a conversation over beers that led to an adventure of a lifetime. We've all been friends for a long time (all went to college together), and after the 2010 World Cup, our friend Sam (featured in the doc) threw out the idea of doing a road trip through Latin America on the way to the World Cup in Brazil. We thought it was a crazy idea, but as beers kept flowing, it became a better and better idea. We realized with the two following World Cups being in Russia and Qatar, this was really our only chance to do something like this. The next day, we started in earnest in preparing for the trip, and countless video chats later, and we were ready to go.

K+S: American Fútbol has a lot of familiar themes in documentaries: road trip, buddy movie, football. How did you make it feel like it was it’s own unique film?

We wanted our film to be as authentic as possible. So the approach from the beginning was to immerse ourselves in the countries we visited, and let the subjects tell their own stories. Since we jumped around to so many different places, we felt it was important for us as characters to be the connective tissue between the stories. But we never wanted to be the focus. We knew the people we'd meet and the stories they'd share would be much more interesting. That allowed us to focus on connecting with these people, and being alongside them for the ride gave us a unique perspective into their world.

The interesting thing we discovered was that so many of these stories had a similar thread of humanity within them. Soccer was just the thing that brought those common human elements out of each one.

K+S: How did you pick where you went? Did you have a story in mind as you went along or did you let the people you met and the stories you found guide you?

Our goal was to go to all the Latin American countries that qualified for the World Cup in Brazil. Unfortunately, the only one we didn't make it to was Honduras. But including the U.S., there were 10 countries from the greater American continent competing in Brazil. This was really Latin America's World Cup, so we thought it was the perfect chance for us, as Americans, to listen and learn from people who have the greatest direct impact on the growth of soccer culture in the U.S. So in each place we looked for stories that we felt related to us as Americans, and an American audience. 

Some stories like David Patey, the American owner of C.S. Herediano in Costa Rica, we pre-produced and planned out ahead of time. Other stories like the blind soccer team in Colombia, we discovered on our trip. We wanted to be as prepared as possible going into the trip, while still allowing for things to happen naturally along the way.

K+S: What’s a favorite story or scene that didn’t make it into the final cut of the film?

In Ecuador, our story explores how their national team broke down racial, regional, and economic barriers in a country as diverse as the continent of South America itself. We share the story from the point of Ulises de la Cruz, one of Ecuador's most famous players, who lifted himself out of poverty to play in two World Cups and now represents his home region in the National Congress. When we visited his village, we profiled a 15-year-old man-child named Michael Chala who hoped to follow Ulises's footsteps and use his football talents to lift his own family out of poverty. We kept footage of him in the film, but we had to cut his storyline and interviews with him and his mom out of the film for timing and pacing reasons. They were emotional interviews too (and Michael said he wanted to play in the U.S.!), but ultimately couldn't fit in. Regardless, we think the major themes in that section still come through pretty well.

K+S: The next World Cup is this summer. Who ya got?

Petar: It's hard not to pick Germany again. Their roster is so deep with experience and youth at all positions, but I have a feeling that Brazil will find a way to learn from their mistakes in 2014 and lift the World Cup trophy in Russia. My dark horse is Serbia. They always have a talented roster but never seem to find a way to play together as a team. This year will be different! (Being from Serbia may give me a slight bias here).

Pete: I agree, you're silly not to say Germany. But I'm also hopeful that the World Cup trophy can return to South America. The storybook final has to be Brazil-Germany and I'd hope Brazil gets their redemption. Also, don't sleep on Spain. They're so skilled, have a good mix of veterans and hungry young guys, and they're group is pretty weak. If they catch fire, they'll be hard to beat.

"Soccer Style" will take centerstage on May 23 at K+S New York 2018

Got soccer style?

From PSG jerseys in Paris to soccer scarves in Milan to footy-inspired brands like Asbury Park FC, soccer style is having a moment.

So, on Night 2 of K+S New York 2018, we'll channel our inner fashionistas with a special post-screening discussion of soccer style. Our panelists include:

• Simon Doonan, writer, media personality, and creative ambassador for Barneys New York. His newest book, SOCCER STYLE: The Magic and Madness, comes out in June.
• Shawn Francis, digital media pro, American soccer socialite, and co-founder of soccer apparel brand Asbury Park FC.
• Lucas Shanks, a creative director and writer in New York City. He is the founder of Tens Club, a newsletter-based football brand. He plays for Nowhere FC in the Bowery Premier League and for Manhattan Kickers in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.
• Calen Carr (moderator), ex-MLS player, digital correspondent for MLSsoccer.com, and co-founder of soccer apparel brand Future Collective.

GET KITTED OUT AT K+S! To celebrate properly on our special Style Night, we want to see you get all soccer chic. Sport your favorite soccer jersey. Don a scarf. Wear shorts! We'll take a big photo of everyone in their footy finest to post on K+S channels.

And don't forget the films! Night 2 boasts a double feature of Messi & Me and Boniek et Platini.

Stay tuned for more updates in the lead up to K+S New York 2018 on Tuesday, May 22!

Here is the K+S New York 2018 film lineup. Get Tickets Now!

K+S is back. And we're wearing the #10 shirt!

Hard to believe it, but 2018 marks the 10th year for the Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival in New York. To celebrate, we've got our coolest lineup of films yet, a roster that spans the globe and reflects the multitude of our beautiful game -- joy, sadness, friendship, inclusion, tragedy, resurrection, politics, style, and more.

K+S New York 2018 runs for four nights, May 22-25, and will once again be held at Scandinavia House in midtown Manhattan (MAP). The festival will, as always, feature a full slate of soccer cultural events, including film screenings, panel discussions, filmmaker Q&As, post-screening parties, and raffles.  

Without further ado, here are the films:

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Night 1: Football for Better or Worse

Tuesday, May 22 | 7:00PM | presented by Societe Generale and the American-Scandinavian Foundation

FC Rosengård is one of the world's top women’s clubs. But that doesn’t mean everything is easy. This documentary exposes the inherent struggles of women’s football, following the team through a dramatic year of triumph and loss. Led by new sporting director Therese Sjögran and Brazilian star Marta, the club fights every day to lift the women’s game. Can they win? | US PREMIERE | MORE INFO

PLUS:
I Love Hooligans (short) -- A football hooligan feels unconditional love for his club. However, when that hooligan is gay, he has to hide his identity in order to survive. Directed by Jan-Dirk Bouw.

BUY TICKETS

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Night 2: Messi & Me | Boniek et Platini (Double Feature!)

Wednesday, May 23 | 7:00PM

Messi & Me -- In the summer of 2013, former college player Matt Eliason scored this amazing bicycle kick goal while playing in an exhibition with superstar Lionel Messi. This is the story of what happened next. | WORLD PREMIERE | MORE INFO

Boniek et Platini -- While their national team competes at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, two young Pollish boys are recreating the action in the street. But their country is under martial law, and after two police officers confiscate their ball, they challenge them to a match. What's at stake? The ball. And so much more. | MORE INFO

PLUS:
On the Bench (short) -- Marci has an important match. He also has a family. So winning and losing are complicated. Directed by Csaba Vékes.

BUY TICKETS

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Night 3: Nossa Chape

Thursday, May 24 | 7:00PM

In the wake of the 2016 Chapecoense airplane crash that claimed all but three of the players' lives, the team and the city were divided about how to handle the tragedy: Should they focus on keeping the memory of the dead alive? Or move on? And as the team travels to play the championship game that the ill-fated roster should have played, can everyone come together around a common goal? | MORE INFO

BUY TICKETS

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Night 4: American Fútbol

Friday, May 25 | 7:00PM | Closing night party presented by the New York Red Bulls

In 2014, four American filmmakers and college friends undertake a four-month journey through Latin America to the World Cup in Brazil. Over 7,000 miles and 8 countries, they explore Latin America's passion for fútbol and emerge not only with a newfound understanding of the Americas, but also a deeper respect for the power of the beautiful game. | WORLD PREMIERE | MORE INFO

PLUS:
1994 (short). Football and politics collide just as Italian hero Roberto Baggio strides up to take an infamous penalty kick. Directed by Gianluigi Antonelli and Ilaria Fini.

BUY TICKETS

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Please support the people who support us:

PARTNERS:

EINSTÖK ÖLGERÐ
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.

SOCIETE GENERALE
Societe Generale is one of the largest European financial services groups. Based on a diversified and integrated banking model, the Group combines financial solidity with a strategy of sustainable growth, and aims to be the reference for relationship banking, recognised on its markets, close to clients, chosen for the quality and commitment of its teams.

For more information, follow on twitter @societegenerale or visit our website www.societegenerale.com.

NEW YORK RED BULLS
The New York Red Bulls are one of 23 teams in Major League Soccer (MLS). They are one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its founding in 1996. They currently play home matches at Red Bull Arena (RBA) in Harrison, New Jersey. RBA, a state-of-the-art, 25,000-seat stadium, is widely regarded as the top soccer-specific stadium in North America. The club is owned by the Austrian beverage company Red Bull GmbH for which the team is named. 

K+S CHARITABLE PARTNER:

SOUTH BRONX UNITED
Part of the proceeds will go to support South Bronx United, which aims to help youth build character, teamwork, and leadership so that they can succeed in high school, college, careers, their community and beyond. South Bronx United strives to promote educational achievement, health and wellness, and character development through activities on and off the soccer field and to unite a diverse group of individuals and an incredibly diverse community toward common positive goals. More info here.

FRIENDS OF K+S:

NYC Footy | More than just a soccer league
NYFEST | Each April, dozens of teams and hundreds of players from all walks of media, entertainment and marketing—from New York City and all points internationally—take the pitch at Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier 5 for a full day of spirited five-a-side competition. 

Please support the K+S Soccer Film Festival partners and friends

As everyone knows, the lifeblood of soccer is the supporters. They're the energy that powers the game, inspires the players, gives true meaning to the 90 minutes. 

Throughout the first decade of K+S, we've been lucky enough to have amazing supporters. Not only you, the festival attendees, who turn out every year to express your love of the game and share your soccer stories with us, but also the companies and organizations who through the years have provided support, guidance, promotion, and more. 

Here are the partners and friends who are supporting us in 2018. Please support them in return. 

PARTNERS

EINSTÖK ÖLGERÐ

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. At present, Einstök brews Icelandic White Ale, Icelandic Arctic Pale Ale, Icelandic Toasted Porter, the new Wee Heavy Scotch Ale and two seasonal brews: Icelandic Arctic Berry Ale and Icelandic Doppelbock. Visit the Ale Locator and follow Einstök on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

SOCIETE GENERALE

Societe Generale is one of the largest European financial services groups. Based on a diversified and integrated banking model, the Group combines financial solidity with a strategy of sustainable growth, and aims to be the reference for relationship banking, recognised on its markets, close to clients, chosen for the quality and commitment of its teams. For more information, you can follow us on twitter @societegenerale or visit our website www.societegenerale.com

NEW YORK RED BULLS

The New York Red Bulls are one of 23 teams in Major League Soccer (MLS). They are one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its founding in 1996. They currently play home matches at Red Bull Arena (RBA) in Harrison, New Jersey. RBA, a state-of-the-art, 25,000-seat stadium, is widely regarded as the top soccer-specific stadium in North America. The club is owned by the Austrian beverage company Red Bull GmbH for which the team is named.

ASF + SCANDINAVIAN HOUSE

Scandinavia House, home to the American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF), presents a wide range of exhibitions, films, concerts, lectures & family programs dedicated to contemporary Nordic culture.

CHARITABLE PARTNER

SOUTH BRONX UNITED

Part of the tonight proceeds will go to support South Bronx United, which aims to help youth build character, teamwork, and leadership so that they can succeed in high school, college, careers, their community and beyond. South Bronx United strives to promote educational achievement, health and wellness, and character development through activities on and off the soccer field and to unite a diverse group of individuals and an incredibly diverse community toward common positive goals. More info here.

FRIENDS OF K+S

NYC FOOTY

More than just a soccer league.

NYFEST

Each April, dozens of teams and hundreds of players from all walks of media, entertainment and marketing—from New York City and all points internationally—take the pitch at Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier 5 for a full day of spirited five-a-side competition. 

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