SOC ‘I Am Somebody’ wins big at Int FICTS Fest

Documentary film I Am Somebody, starring two-time Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and directed by a team of female filmmakers led by Jamillah van der Hulst, won the Guirlande d’Honneur at 40.^u Sport Movies & TV – Milano International FICTS Fest – recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the world championship of sports films.

Screened at various film festivals around the world, the documentary features football icon David Beckham in a guest appearance, I’m Somebody tells the story of six street-connected children who are chosen to represent their country at the Street Kids World Cup in Qatar. Some of them are from the streets of Brazil and Bangladesh, others from Pakistan and others from a refugee camp in Palestine, according to a press release.

The film was shot in five countries depicting the children before, during and after the Street Children’s World Cup which brought together 28 teams with more than 280 participants. The film demonstrates the power of football to ignite hope and positively impact the lives of these young people.

I Am Somebody is directed by Jamillah van der Hulst from the Netherlands, with assistant director Dina Amin from Palestine and Rio unit director Maria Clara Costa from Brazil. Mike Downey, producer and the president of the European Film Academy and a long-time human rights activist and defender of the rights of street children, and Stephen Daldry, nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Director, are among the involved Executive Producers of the film. .

A press release quoted Obaid-Chinoy as saying: “Encouraging and rehabilitating street children by giving them a chance to thrive is something that is commendable. Our journey to capture the stories of these young talents on the streets of Pakistan, showing their determination to shine in the World Cup and proving that they are just as capable as anyone else, is an inspiration to us all. Movies like this make you realize how important it is to create opportunities for young people. We are excited to share the film with the rest of the world.”

Director Jamillah van der Hulst about working with the main characters adds: “It’s hard to imagine that over 100 million children live on the streets today. They are often neglected and forgotten. But these children show resilience and despite extremely difficult conditions they maintain hope for a better future. The guys on I Am Somebody opened up to us and their strong characters and heartwarming stories are an inspiration to everyone they meet.”

I Am Somebody is independently produced by 5^u Element Group (USA), Rebel with a Cause (USA), SOC Films (Pakistan) and JaJa Film Productions (Netherlands), with post-production support from Amsterdam-based Media.Monks.

Earlier in October 2023, the World Premiere of I Am Somebody was hosted by the Festival do Rio (Brazil), followed by screenings at the Cambridge Film Festival (UK), the Women in Film and Television event in Cyprus, the Fort International Film Festival Lauderdale (USA), Asia Pacific Screen Awards and Milano International FICTS Fest in November 2023. The film will also be screened at the Dhaka International Film Festival in January 2024.

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