Projects in genres: Sport

Synopsis

A true-life comedy of the most epic proportions, SAIPAN chronicles the events leading up to Ireland’s incendiary 2002 World Cup campaign, when the intense rivalry between Manchester United and Ireland football legend Roy Keane and Irish national manager Mick McCarthy transcended the game and gripped an entire nation. In 2002 while preparing for the World Cup on the tiny island of Saipan and when Keane was captaining the Irish national side, he and McCarthy had a very public, very bitter disagreement. On the surface, their feud was all about standards, but deep down it was a hugely emotive story of two men whose rivalry and contempt came to surpass the sport they loved, and whose very public falling out was to become one of the most fractious falling-outs in the history of the sport. Official Selection Toronto International Film Festival 2025 - World premiere Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2025 - European premiere

Synopsis

The Manchester 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness raises funds in aid of Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity’s flagship scheme, A Bed Every Night. The filmmaker’s initial approach was slightly judgemental, trying to understand the participants' deeper engagement with the event. However, the organisers’ and runners’ profound responses had transformed the filmmaking journey into an exploratory journey of humanity's multifaceted nature, revealing unexpected layers of resilience and compassion.

Synopsis

In 1970s Britain, Tony Powell was a star defender for Norwich City Football Club — until one day he disappeared from the public eye without a word to family or friends. Decades and seemingly a lifetime later, Tony now quietly resides at the Holloway Motel in the heart of West Hollywood as its manager and sole resident (apart from his dog Samantha). However, after he learns the motel is shuttering and he’ll soon be evicted, Tony must finally reconcile his past and present in order to survive and come to terms with the multifaceted relationships of his life: those he’s found, lost and abandoned. Official Selection Tribeca Film Festival 2025 - World premiere

Synopsis

From the moment Tom Daley leaps off the diving board, he has 1.6 seconds to showcase what can be achieved when you spend over two decades of your life putting in blood, sweat and tears in the pursuit of athletic perfection. This documentary, named after those pivotal seconds, tells the incredible life story of five-time Olympic medallist and LGBTQIA+ activist Tom Daley OBE. Join us as we travel through the past and present of the world’s most iconic Olympic diver, and explore the successes and hardships that a child prodigy from Plymouth faced in his journey to become one of Britain’s most successful Olympic athletes of all time. With never-before-seen archive footage and close collaboration with Tom Daley and his family, this documentary explores the pivotal figures, biggest achievements, and greatest obstacles that Daley faced both in and out of the pool. Throughout his life, Daley has battled injury, loss, eating disorders, and prejudice against his sexuality, and come out stronger on the other side. Be it as a sporting legend or champion for LGBTQ+ rights, Tom Daley has shaped the world far beyond what could have been thought possible for a British diver. This is his story.

Synopsis

An unflinching portrait of four bare-knuckle fighters, including a devoted father fighting for his family’s future while haunted by his past. Set between the chaos of the cage and the quiet of home, it explores masculinity, survival, and the cost of breaking the cycle you were born into.

Synopsis

The story of TRUK United, a grassroots, proudly trans football club formed in January 2021. Filmed over two years, this heartfelt documentary captures the highs and lows of the pioneering UK team on and off the pitch as they strive to create a safe haven for their community in the face of rising transphobia. Official Selection BFI Flare London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival 2025 - World premiere #FiveFilmsForFreedom 2025 programme

Synopsis

Just nine months after a horrific accident Ethan Walker decides to cycle from Scotland to Germany for Scotland's opening match against Germany in Euro 2024 (UEFA European Football Championship). Official Selection Glasgow Film Festival 2025 - World premiere

Synopsis

In track and field he’s remembered as The Greatest. Athletics' first commercially global star. Away from the spotlight, his is a life often misunderstood. Carl Lewis did it his own way - unwilling to conform to what the US expected from its athletes. Lewis won nine Olympic gold medals across four Games and was voted 'Sportsman of the Century' by the International Olympic Committee. Yet he refused to be pigeonholed and, in doing so, he inspired change on and off the field. I’m Carl Lewis! delves into the consequences of his uncompromising drive. Official Selection SXSW Film & TV Festival 2025 - World premiere

Synopsis

Jack Jones, mid-40s, has six weeks to turn his life around - he needs to save his marriage, kick his drug habit, and quit fighting at football or he’s going to prison. His friends just want the old Jack back, even if it means the end of his marriage... Temptation lurks around every corner – particularly when Jack’s unhinged brother-in-law, Kenny Boy (recently discharged from a mental hospital) is nearby. Can Jack overcome his demons in time, or is he heading for jail? A 'romantic comedy’ about addiction, violence, and happy endings.

Synopsis

Damon Hill’s father was his hero. Graham Hill was a two-time world champion and racing icon full of natural charisma, humour and vibrancy; he was a towering figure. For Damon, growing up on the circuit at a time when F1 was immensely dangerous for the drivers, death cast a constant threat. And when Graham was killed in a plane crash leaving the family with nothing, 15-year-old Damon was forced to find his path without his father’s support and guidance, a path that would ultimately lead him back into Formula 1. This is the story of a son’s life-long search to understand his father, set against the backdrop of two fascinating, contrasting eras of the sport: the 1960-70s, a time of glamour and demi-gods, and the 1980-90s, a time of rivalry among men. This film tells how Damon wrestled with his father’s legacy and how, through sheer determination, he forged himself into a champion and became the father he never had.

Synopsis

The Cock Tavern is no ordinary East London pub. Renowned for its real ales and larger-than-life regulars it also plays host to one of the capital’s quirkiest underground traditions: the pickled egg eating competition. This short documentary dives headfirst into the ritual, capturing the characters, chaos, and community spirit that make the event truly unforgettable. From local legends chasing eternal glory to wide-eyed newcomers testing their limits, the film is a funny and heartfelt portrait of a place where tradition is steeped in vinegar - and victory tastes oddly sulphuric.

Synopsis

An experimental short about love, set from the point of view of Jelena Djokovic.