After two autumn sessions, Sport Film Festival Rotterdam 2022 will take place on May 17 in LantarenVenster. The line-up during this 8th edition of the festival consists of a ‘Best of SFFR’ film program, an award ceremony and theย Gladiatoren on the Maas-special.
The mission of the festival is to draw attention to sports films and increase their visibility. The aim is to contribute to the development of sports films. And stimulate the sports film industry and put sports cinema in the spotlight locally, nationally and internationally.
On 17 May, the Best of SFFR program opens with international short films including Outswing. The winner of the jury prize for best short film and best direction of SFFR 2021, by Pakistani director Samar Khan. And A Second Family, the winner of the Sport & Society Film Award of SFFR 2021, by filmmakers Ramon Orense and Susanne Krauss. Both inspiring films show the power and meaning of sport for individuals and communities.
Aย selection of short films from the Netherlands, including Frank Curiel – A Baseball Story by director Kristen Dania, is next. It’s about baseball coach and champion maker Frank Curiel from Curaรงao. This film received a Special Mention during SFFR 2021.
Special screening at Sport Film Festival Rotterdam 2022
The evening will be concluded with the philosophical long surf film Up North by director Rodrigo Zan. It got the jury prize for best cinematography at SFFR 2021. Also shown is the fascinating documentary By Rook or Left Hook โ The Story of Chessboxing.
During the festive presentation of the Rotterdam Sport Film Award, the three nominated sports films with a link to the city are announced. The nominees are Jaรฏr, by Jacco Groen, Anna’s Tocht by Wendelien Voogd and Body & Mind by Mark Redan.
The Special Screening is an after movie of Gladiatoren aan de Maas and the short boxing film Bundini. This film by director Patrick Green shows the largely unknown story of Drew ‘Bundini’ Brown. The assistant trainer and ‘cornerman’ of world heavyweight champion
Muhammad Ali. He had had a strong influence on the success and the social impact of ‘The Greatest’.
