KICK-OFF

In a small Kyrgyzstan village where women are bound by tradition, Gazi organizes a women’s football tournament to empower them and challenge social taboos. Women of all ages are invited to participate, but the announcement sparks tension, as they must seek their husbands' permission. With no football experience, the women secretly train on the outskirts, away from the men, who are excluded from the event. activist organizes a women's football tournament to challenge these patriarchal traditions. Kick-Off demonstrates how athletics has the power to break taboos, while promoting gender quality in rigidly male-controlled societies.

THE FILMMAKERS

Roser Corella & Stefano Obino are independent flmmakers based in Berlin, each with a distinct approach to documentary storytelling. Together, Corella and Obino are committed to uncovering powerful narratives that inspire change and provoke thought.

Roser Corella began her career as a video journalist before transitioning to self-produced documentaries. She is renowned for her visually compelling narratives centered on women, customary laws, labour, and migration. Her award-winning flms, Machine man, Prisoners of Kanun, Grab and Run, and Room Without a View, have been showcased at international festivals such as CPH:DOX, Hot Docs, Shaghai IFF, Tessaloniki IFF, among others.

Stefano Obino is a screenwriter and flmmaker recognized for his work in various formats, including independent flms and docu-series. His debut feature, Te Gospel According to Precario, gained acclaim in Italy, and he directed Nel paese dei Coppoloni, a fnalist at the David di Donatello Awards. Obino's last documentary War Is Over awarded at the Nastri d'Argento 2022, and upcoming projects, highlight his creative evolution.

AWARDS AND FESTIVALS

Best Documentary – International Ethnographic Film Festival, Spain
Best documentary – International Sport Film Festival, Italy
Special Mention – Matera Film Festival, Italy
Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, Greece