Baghdad Messi Explained

Baghdad Messi
Director:Sahim Omar Kalifa
Screenplay:Kobe Van Steenberghe
Story:Kobe Van Steenberghe
Ruth Mallaerts
Based On:Baghdad Messi
by Sahim Omar Kalifa
Kobe Van Steenberghe
Producer:Hendrik Verthé
Kobe Van Steenberghe
Starring:Ahmed Mohammed Abdullah
Cinematography:Anton Mertens
Editing:Dorith Vinken
Music:Frédéric Vercheval
Studio:A Team Productions
10.80 Films
Column Film
Mitos Film
Distributor:The Searchers[1]
Runtime:88 minutes
Country:Belgium
The Netherlands
Germany
Iraq
Language:Arabic
Kurdish
Gross:$40,528[2]

Baghdad Messi (Arabic: ميسي بغداد) is a 2023 drama film directed by Sahim Omar Kalifa and with a screenplay by Kobe Van Steenberghe from a story by Kobe Van Steenberghe and Ruth Mallaerts. It is about an Iraqi boy who, after losing his leg in a terrorist attack, will fight to continue enjoying his passion: soccer.[3] It is based on the 2012 short film of the same name by the same director. It is a co-production between Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Iraq.[4]

It was selected as the Iraqi entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.[5]

Synopsis

Hamoudi is a little boy of 11 who loves soccer and dreams of reaching the level of his idol Lionel Messi. One day he is the victim of an attempted suicide attack in Iraq, causing him to lose a leg. While his parents strive at all costs to protect the family, Hamoudi is determined to fight to make his shattered dream come true.[6]

Cast

Production

Principal photography took place in 2021 within the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, the same place where the short film was recorded.[7]

Release

Festivals

It had its world premiere on January 28, 2023, at the Ostend Film Festival,[8] then screened on March 5, 2023, at the Luxembourg City Film Festival,[9] on June 10, 2023, at the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival,[10] and on April 25, 2024, at the Malmo Arab Film Festival.[11]

Theatrical

It was commercially released on April 12, 2023, in Belgian theaters,[12] and on August 3, 2023, in Dutch theaters.[13]

Accolades

YearAward / FestivalCategoryRecipientResultRef.
2023Ostend Film FestivalLook Prize for Best FilmBaghdad Messi[14]
Ensor - Best DirectorSahim Omar Kalifa
Ensor - Best CinematographyAnton Mertens
25th Shanghai International Film FestivalAudience Choice Award for FilmBaghdad Messi[15] [16]
Media Choice Award for Film
SCHLiNGEL - International Film Festival for Children and Young AudienceAward of the Junior Jury[17]
26th Arpa International Film FestivalBest Feature Narrative Film[18] [19]
Best DirectorSahim Omar Kalifa
Best ScreenplayKobe Van Steenberghe

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021-06-28 . Meer info over langspeelfilmversie Baghdad Messi onthuld . 2024-08-28 . Vertigo . nl.
  2. Web site: Baghdad Messi . 2024-08-28 . Box Office Mojo . 2024-09-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240905140032/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt14545954/?ref_=bo_rl_ti . live .
  3. Web site: 2024-02-24 . Baghdad Messi . 2024-08-28 . Nederlands Film Festival . 2024-02-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240224004336/https://www.filmfestival.nl/en/film/baghdad-messi . bot: unknown .
  4. Web site: La coproduction belge 'Baghdad Messi' représentera l'Irak aux Oscars . 2024-08-28 . RTBF . fr . 2024-09-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240905140133/https://www.rtbf.be/article/la-coproduction-belge-baghdad-messi-representera-l-irak-aux-oscars-11425284 . live .
  5. Web site: August 27, 2024 . Baghdad Messi to be Iraq's entry for 2025 Oscars . August 27, 2024 . . September 5, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240905140029/https://www.rudaw.net/english/culture/27082024 . live .
  6. Web site: Baghdad Messi, première coproduction de The Searchers, sélectionné au Festival du Film d'Ostende . The Searchers . 22 December 2022 . 2024-08-28 . 2024-09-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240905140134/https://the-searchers.prezly.com/baghdad-messi-premiere-coproduction-de-the-searchers-selectionne-au-festival-du-film-dostende . live .
  7. Web site: Rasheed . Hunar . Baghdad Messi begins filming in Kurdistan Region . 2024-08-28 . . 2024-07-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240705030359/https://www.rudaw.net/notfound.html . live .
  8. Web site: 2023-01-31 . Baghdad Messi maakt indruk op het Filmfestival van Oostende! - Cinevox . 2024-08-28 . nl-NL.
  9. Web site: Baghdad Messi . 2024-08-28 . Lux Film Festival . 2024-09-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240905140031/https://www.luxfilmfest.lu/en/movies/baghdad-messi/ . live .
  10. Web site: New Activities Announced as Belt and Road Film Week Kicks Off . 2024-08-28 . Shanghai International Film Festival . 2024-09-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240905140036/https://www.siff.com/english/content?aid=101230611173707437632946690592773524 . live .
  11. Web site: 2024-03-09 . Baghdad Messi . 2024-08-28 . Malmo Arab Film Festival . en-GB.
  12. Web site: 2023-04-07 . Op de première van Baghdad Messi! . 2024-08-28 . Cinevox . nl-NL.
  13. Web site: Jonk . Erik . 2023-08-02 . Baghdad Messi: je bent 11, hebt een voetbaldroom, maar verliest een been... . 2024-08-28 . Metronieuws . nl-NL.
  14. Web site: LOOK!-competition 2023 . 2024-08-28 . Filmfestival Oostende . en . 2024-09-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240905140551/https://www.filmfestivaloostende.be/en/look-competition-2023 . live .
  15. Web site: 2023 The Belt and Road Film Week Film Line-up . 2024-08-28 . Shanghai International Film Festival . 2024-09-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240905140600/https://www.siff.com/english/content?aid=101230602111034434274177801785349217 . live .
  16. Web site: Shanghai International Film Festival (2023) . 2024-08-28 . IMDb . 2024-09-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240905140548/https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000605/2023/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_1 . live .
  17. Web site: 2024-08-28 . Winners SCHLINGEL - Internationales Filmfestival . 2024-08-28 . International Film Festival for Children and Young Audience . 2024-08-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240828025414/https://ff-schlingel.de/en/festival/winners . bot: unknown .
  18. Web site: 2023-09-24 . 26th Annual Arpa International Film Festival Official Selection (2023) . 2024-08-28 . Arpa International Film Festival . en-US . 2024-09-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240905140709/https://www.arpafilmfestival.com/official-selection-2023-2/ . live .
  19. Web site: 2023-11-25 . WINNERS of the 26th Arpa International Film Festival (2023) . 2024-08-28 . Arpa International Film Festival . en-US . 2024-08-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240828034028/https://www.arpafilmfestival.com/winners-of-the-26th-arpa-iff-2023/ . live .

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