Introducing Thinking Football Film Festival 2025

The Athletic Club Foundation has unveiled the programme for the 2025 edition of the Thinking Football Film Festival.

Over seven days (from 6 to 12 October), we will screen 11 feature films, two medium-length films and four short films from six different countries, all covering a wide range of fascinating topics.

What's more, Saipan, the opening film, will be celebrating its European premiere at Thinking Football, following a successful run at the Toronto Film Festival.

Among the special guests attending this year's festival and participating in the post-screening discussions are two legendary figures from British football: Peter Reid and Sammy Lee.

They'll be joined by  Palestinian footballer Honey Thaljieh - an Athletic Club 125th anniversary ambassador, as well-known figures from the world of film, including directors Andy Wells, Rob Sloman, Samri Gunn, Freidys Bjanadottir, Samuel Ab, Jack Thornton, Gerard Oms, Martin Fradkin and George Dowell, as well as Rachel Ramsay, James Erskine and Ella Pham, representing last year's Audience Award-winning film, ‘Copa 71’.

The official opening of 13th edition of the festival was led by Johana Ruiz-Olabuenaga, Director of Community Relations at Athletic Club, Galder Reguera, the Athletic Club Foundation's Director of Strategy, and Koldo Bilbao, BBK's Culture Co-Ordinator. 

For further information, the Thinking Football website provides full details of this year's festival, as well as other sections dedicated to previous editions and festival award winners.

Admission is free, but you must reserve a ticket online HERE.  

*All times are CEST.

Monday 6: “Saipan” (19:00), Ireland and UK, 2025, European premiere

This feature film, making its European premiere at our festival, tells the true story behind the row between Ireland's star player Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy on the eve of the 2002 World Cup. Saipan is a story of ego, loyalty and identity that transcends the world of sport.

Saipan's directors, Lisa Barros D'Sa and Glenn Leyburn, will be in attendance at the Sala BBK.

Tuesday 7: “Copa 71” (11:00), “Stuck On You: The Football Sticker Story” + “Greenland: Venecia” (18:00) & “Two Tribes” (20:00)

The documentary ‘Stuck On You: The Football Sticker Story’ explores the fascinating history and culture behind football stickers. 

Following last year's warm reception, we'll be screening a new episode of the Greenland series.

The new installment offers an inspiring and visually captivating look at Venice, inviting us to celebrate not only football, but also the harmony between culture, history and sport in a setting as unconventional as it is charming.

The highlight of the day comes at 20:00 with the screening of ‘Two Tribes’. Set in Liverpool, a city where football and politics are intrinsically linked, this film explores the relationship between Liverpool's two football clubs, Liverpool and Everton, during their 80s heydays, a period that coincided with a socio-economic decline in the region.

Peter Reid, representing Everton, and Sammy Lee, representing Liverpool, two giants of British football, will be in attendance.

On Tuesday the festival will also put on the first of two special morning screenings dedicated to educational centres. We will show last year's Audience Award winner, Copa 71, a film that reflects on gender equality and women's football.

Wednesday 8: “Howard's Way” (19:00), remembering Howard Kendall with Joseba Aguirre and Peio Uralde

This moving documentary, returning to Thinking Football for a second time, tells the story of Everton and their peak under Howard Kendall in the 1980s.

For the occasion, the festival is organising a special Q&A session with Peter Reid, captain of Kendall's legendary Everton team, and former Athletic Club players Joseba Agirre and Peio Uralde. It will be moderated by local journalist Patxi Alonso, who was a close friend of the English coach. 

Thursday 9: “Kickoff” (18:00) & “The Home Game” (20:00)

In a small village in Kyrgyzstan, where conservative traditions relegate women to the domestic sphere, Gazi decides to break with convention by organising a women's football tournament. 'Kickoff' depicts how a simple game can challenge entrenched structures and pave the way for change.

'The Home Game' is a charming Icelandic documentary that follows a team from a small village in their quest to play a single official match at home. The film arrives to Thinking Football with several major accolades under its belt, including audience awards at the Malmö and Glasgow film festivals and Iceland's documentary of the year award, as voted by readers of Klapptré.

Friday 10: Special screening of 'Tigrar' on World Mental Health Day and 'Away' (20:00), starring Mario Casas

Friday begins with the second of our special screenings for educational centres. To mark World Mental Health Day, we will be screening Tigrar, winner of the Thinking Football 2022 audience award.

At 20:00, we'll be showing 'Away', directed by Gerard Oms and starring Mario Casas. The film follows Sergio, who travels to Utrecht with his family to attend a football match.

Before catching his flight back to Barcelona, he suffers an anxiety attack and decides to stay in the Netherlands. Unable to give his family a coherent explanation, he cuts off all contact with his past.
 

Sábado 11: “One, Two, Three, Viva Algeria!” (18:00) and three short films at 20:00

We'll kick-off the weekend with a screening of the French film ‘One, Two, Three, Viva Algeria!’. The title refers to a slogan that deeply linked to history of Algerian football and the relationship between France and Algeria.

The documentary traces the history of this slogan. It originated with the Algerian FLN (National Liberation Front) team during the War of Independence, was revived again during Algeria's 2010 World Cup campaign, and left stadiums to become a universal call for change in 2019.

Starting at 20:00, we'll show three short films: Girls Move Mountains, My Very Own Footballer! and How the Cossacks Played Football. Honey Thaljieh will take part in a Q&A after the screenings.

Sunday 12: ‘Love Lane’ (18:00) and ‘The Club That George Built’ (20:00)

'Love Lane' revolves around Benny, who forms an impromptu Sunday League football team to cling to the past after he loses his job and his best friend moves countries. It's a decision that triggers a chaotic romance with his flatmate.

Thinking Football will bid farwell to the 2025 festival with the screening of a very special film: 'The Club That George Built'. After a life-changing accident, George Dowell finds purpose by transforming his childhood club, Worthing FC.

The film documents George's first-hand account of what it is like to live with a disability, while pursuing a career and fighting for his club's promotion. George will be at Sala BBK to present the film.