Sleeping Giant: An Indian Football Story: London Première a grand success!

The documentary film 'Sleeping Giant: An Indian Football Story' had its world première at the 'Kicking & Screening Soccer Film Festival' ( festival link ) in London at the Everyman Cinemas in Belsize Park on Wednesday evening. I myself flew across from Düsseldorf to London to be there for the première as I myself am part of the documentary by giving my opinion, thoughts and insights on Indian football.

The Everyman Cinemas at Belsize Park is a small, cosy, old fashioned little cinema and it was the fitting location to show the documentary for the first time to the general audience besides also having some of the protagonists of the documentary present, many of whom had never met before.

The story of the documentary has two strings, one which follows the two winners of the 2009 South Mumbai Soccer Challenge, Hussain Vahanvaty and Shaun Fernandes, on their six week training trip at Queens Park Rangers FC in London after showing how these two boys were spotted at the South Mumbai Soccer Challenge and then the second string being the situation of Indian football.

Director Daniel Glynn, producer Mat Hodgson and their whole team at Ad Hoc Films worked close to two-and-a-half years to produce the documentary and I have to say, the outcome is a great piece of filmography!

After the screening première there was a Q&A session moderated by renowned British Indian journalist Mihir Bose which included director Daniel Glynn, producer Mat Hodgson, QPR youth coaches Steve Gallen and Marc Bircham besides myself, all who have something to do with the documentary. We did go into a little more detail about the Indian football though having little time to discuss it then taking about Indian football's situation could go on and on.

I thoroughly enjoyed being there for the première meeting a lot of old friends and making new one's and I can only recommend everything who is interested in Indian football or maybe even not, to watch the documentary.

Here the link to the 'Sleeping Giant: An Indian Football Story' Facebook Fanpage www.facebook.com/SleepingGiantfilm

Sleeping Giant: An Indian Football Story - World Première tonight in London!

Tonight the documentary film 'Sleeping Giant: An Indian Football Story' will have its world première at the 'Kicking & Screening Soccer Film Festival' in London at Everyman Cinemas at Belsize Park at 21.00 GMT. I myself will be flying across to London to be there for the première as I myself am part of the documentary by giving my opinion and insights on Indian football.

Having seen the raw version of the documentary film it is simply great! A documentary about Indian football highlighting its strengths and weaknesses intended for a global audience should be something worth watching...

The documentary film has been made by AdHoc Films, the makers of the critically acclaimed documentary 'The Four Year Plan'. It is a journey of two young footballers from the South Mumbai Football Challenge to the Academy at Queens Park Rangers FC with contributions from eminent journalists and football specialists about the difficult subject of Indian football.

Shot over two and a half years, this documentary follows the young hopefuls from the backstreets of Mumbai to London, as they embark on an incredible journey to realise their dreams. Soon the age old questions of whether sport success is nature or nurture, talent or opportunity, are brought to the fore.

Director Daniel Glynn said about the film, "We've been given a privileged and unique insight into a country described as (actually your direct quote Arunava!) footballs last frontier."


Here for more information about tickets for the London première at Belsize Park:
http://www.everymancinema.com/advanced-sales/sleeping-giant

Here the link to the 'Sleeping Giant: An Indian Football Story' Facebook Fanpage www.facebook.com/SleepingGiantfilm

Sleeping Giant: An Indian Football Story - Première on October 3 in London!

The documentary film 'Sleeping Giant: An Indian Football Story' will première at the 'Kicking & Screening Soccer Film Festival' at Everyman Cinemas at Belsize Park in London on Wednesday, October 3 at 21.00 GMT. I myself will be around for the première as I am part of the documentary by giving my opinion and insights on Indian football.

The documentary film has been made by AdHoc Films, the makers of the critically acclaimed documentary 'The Four Year Plan'. It is a journey of two young footballers from the South Mumbai Football Challenge to the Academy at Queens Park Rangers FC with contributions from eminent journalists and football specialists about the difficult subject of Indian football.

Shot over two and a half years, this documentary follows the young hopefuls from the backstreets of Mumbai to London, as they embark on an incredible journey to realise their dreams. Soon the age old questions of whether sport success is nature or nurture, talent or opportunity, are brought to the fore.

Director Daniel Glynn said about the film, "We've been given a privileged and unique insight into a country described as (actually your direct quote Arunava!) footballs last frontier."

"But at its heart, this is a discussion not just about this huge and relevant subject. It's the human story of two boys who share the same dream, to play professional football. Their story in many ways gives the film its emotional core and hopefully makes the wider discussion even more powerful to a global audience. I'm certain it's only a matter of time before we see Indian football having a greater presence on the world stage," Daniel added.

While his colleague Mat Hodgson said, "Making Sleeping Giant has been a fascinating journey that has a duality. On one level we have a case study of plucking two boys from obscurity and giving them a platform to show and develop talents. This has brought into the light the age old debate about sport being about ability or opportunity. Secondly, it has brought the vast question of why Indian football barely registers on a global football scale. The world has a population of 7 billion and India is 1.2 billion. When you look at it like that it defies logic even on the most basic level. We found during the making of this that the hunger is there but the system needs grabbing by the scruff of the neck by someone visionary. India's strength is it's population and with that brings vast sponsorship and commercial opportunities which can fund a football revolution. They can definitely can do it."


Here for more information about tickets for the London première at Belsize Park:
http://www.everymancinema.com/advanced-sales/sleeping-giant

Here the link to the Facebook Fanpage www.facebook.com/SleepingGiantfilm

VIDEO: 'The Four Year Plan' Trailer

A lot of you have been asking me again and again about the documentary QPR: The Four Year Plan after I watched it and posted about it on social media. Here is the trailer of the documentary film!






The full documentary is not available on YouTube or any other platform. If you want to watch it, you will have to buy it!

Here a online platform to buy the QPR: The Four Year Plan .

VIDEO: QPR's The Four Year Plan Documentary, an Interview with Director Mat Hodgson

Last night I watched The Four Year Plan, a controversial documentary about the takeover by Bernie Ecclestone, Flavio Briatore and the Mittal Family. It was really impressive and gives good insights on a football club fighting to get into the Premier League and all problems it faces, some of them own created. The film tells the story of a club saved from extinction to making it into the Premiership from 2007 to 2011.

Here in the Sports Tonight interview the Director and Producer of The Four Year Plan, Mat Hodgson, talks with Aidan Magee about the documentary.






Sadly the 96 minute documentary is not available online, but if you do get a chance to watch it I recommend you do!!!