World Football Film Festival kicks off this week

Denver has scored its first World Football Film Festival just in time for the World Cup, which starts June 12. Sponsored by Denver Film Society, America Scores Denver, Soccer Electric and Three Lions Pub, the inaugural festival will run June 5 through June 8 at the Sie FilmCenter. See also:...

By Caleb Williams

June 2, 2014

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Denver has scored its first World Football Film Festival just in time for the World Cup, which starts June 12. Sponsored by Denver Film Society, America Scores Denver, Soccer Electric and Three Lions Pub, the inaugural festival will run June 5 through June 8 at the Sie FilmCenter.

"It's really about bringing communities together through film," says JoAnna Cintron, marketing and communications manager for the Denver Film Society. "It can be hard to really capture the worldwide fervor that soccer creates, but we think our lineup is a great way to show all aspects of the sport, while bringing together both of our organizations."

The festival will kick off on Thursday, June 5, with the Black Cleat Affair opening night party, featuring an appearance by Colorado Rapids Midfielder Dillon Powers and a screening of Next Goal Wins.

The full movie lineup: Next Goal Wins June 5 at 7 p.m. and June 8 at 2:15 p.m. A bitter, underdog story of American Samoa's soccer team and their mountainous challenge of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. (USA, 2014)

The Life and Times of Paul the Psychic Octopus June 6 at 7 p.m. An admittedly head-scratching story of the octopus -- yes, octopus -- that allegedly predicted the results of eight different 2010 World Cup matches. (USA, 2012)

Pelada June 7 at 3:15 p.m. An exploration of pick-up soccer games (called "pelada" in Brazil, literally meaning "naked" or the game stripped to its rawest form) and their unifying effect across the globe. (South Africa, 2010)

The Damned United June 7 at 5:30 p.m. Tom Hooper (The King's Speech) helms this critically acclaimed biopic about the clash of ideologies between the aggressive Leeds United soccer team and new coach Brian Clough. (United Kingdom, 2009)

The Arsenal Stadium Mystery June 7 at 7:45 p.m. When a player collapses and inexplicably dies during a charity soccer game, an inspector of Scotland Yard declares it murder, setting off a fervent investigation. (United Kingdom, 1939)

Victory June 7 at 9:30 p.m. American POWs prepare for a soccer game against German soldiers in Nazi-occupied France while Allied Powers prepare to break them out. (USA, 1981)

Beautiful Game June 8 at 4:30 p.m. A documentary about soccer's place in modern African culture. (United Kingdom, 2002

Tickets to each film are $12 for the general public and $10 for Denver Film Society members. Find more information here.

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