Projects in genres: Sport

Synopsis

The true story of the meteoric rise and fall of one of the most celebrated and controversial sportsmen, Lance Armstrong.
Following a gruelling battle with cancer, he returned to his cycling career in 1999 with his sights set firmly on winning the Tour de France. With the help of the infamous Italian physician Michele Ferrari and team director Johan Bruyneel, he developed the most sophisticated doping program in the history of the sport allowing Armstrong and his American teammates to dominate the world of cycling, winning the Tour an unprecedented seven times. However, not everyone believed the fairytale... Sunday Times journalist David Walsh soon began to question whether the ‘world’s greatest athlete’ was ‘clean’.
Toronto International Film Festival 2015 - World premiere

Synopsis

Battle Mountain is the story of Graeme Obree’s epic journey. Can a man who broke world records and won world championships 20 years ago still cut it as his fiftieth birthday approaches?
Graeme Obree and his legendary bike “Old Faithful” inspired Sir Chris Hoy – who calls him a genius, as well as Sir Bradley Wiggins and millions of cyclists across the world. 20 years on he has built a bike, and the aerodynamic shell, in his attempt to break the International Human Powered Vehicle Association land speed record.
“BATTLE MOUNTAIN” is an immersive observational documentary showing how Graeme built “The Beastie” (as named by Sir Chris Hoy). Following Graeme as he trains in the Ayrshire rain and the sunshine of Tenerife, and watches as his cardio workouts take him to the point of collapse.
'Battle Mountain' isn’t just about a sport and engineering genius. It is also about the fragility of the human mind and the mental strength required to make you a world record holder. Graeme openly talks about the difficulties he has encountered and survived through his life. He doesn’t shy away from his demons, everything is confronted head on.
Edinburgh International Film Festival 2015 - World premiere

Synopsis

If we have been remiss in our life, and hurt the people we most love, is it ever too late to redress the balance? Ray, a lonely old boxer, desperately estranged from his son, records his loves, his regrets, and his greatest life lessons to a camera in an empty boxing gym. His is the desperate hope that no estrangement is permanent, and that it is never too late to say sorry.
Edinburgh International Film Festival 2015 - World premiere

Synopsis

The life of Paul Gascoigne, one of the greatest footballers that ever lived: delving deep into his psyche, vulnerabilities, fears and triumphs.

Synopsis

'Steve McQueen: The Man and Le Mans'
By 1970, Steve McQueen ruled Hollywood. Hot off the back of classics like ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ and ‘Bullitt’ he could now make the movie that was his life’s passion: McQueen's experience on 'Le Mans' changed his life forever.
Interweaving stunning newly discovered footage and voice recordings with original interviews, this is the true story of how one of cinema's legends would risk almost everything in pursuit of his dream.
Cannes Film Festival 2015 - World premiere - Cannes Classics

Synopsis

With debts piling up and a baby on the way, Jimmy’s last hope is to enter an underground boxing match, despite his girlfriend Sophie’s objections.
Determined to stop him, Sophie arrives at the ring, where she is unexpectedly confronted by her past.

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The Speed Sisters are the first all-women race car driving team in the Middle East. They're bold. They're fearless. And they're tearing up tracks all over Palestine.

Synopsis

The Palio horserace in Siena isn't a matter of life or death... It's much more important than that. Twice a year the Italian city of Siena goes crazy for the oldest horse race in the world: the Palio. Not your average race: strategy, bribery and corruption play as much a part as the skill of the riders.
'Palio' explores the thrilling story of a rivalry between a young ‘outsider' keen to break in to a dangerous but lucrative game and the corrupt 'insider' who has manipulated the city of Siena for a decade. Their passionate and dramatic battle is an epic and cinematic tale of Italian life in microcosm.
Tribeca Film Festival 2015 - World premiere

Synopsis

Rally driver Shane Hunter faces his comeback to Group B competition after a long and troubled absence.

Synopsis

Cyclists Les West and Roger Pratt reminisce and swap anecdotes about riding the Milk Race Tour of Britain in the 1960s. While one had the time of his life, the other faced a stark choice on how far to push his career.

Synopsis

An inspirational and occasionally heart-stopping true story of a group of friends from a working men's club in Wales who decide to take on the elite 'sport of kings' and breed themselves a racehorse. Against all the odds, their young foal, raised on nearby waste-land, goes on to become a champion. Until one day disaster strikes…
Official Selection Toronto 2015 - TIFF Docs

Synopsis

In the documentary Streetkids United II - The Girls From Rio a Brazilian girls football team is followed as they prepare themselves for the tournament that will change their lives forever, the Street Child World Cup. In the midst of police and drug gangs confrontations the Favela Street Girls strive to keep their dreams alive.