Honey Thaljieh: “Thank you for being our voice”

On Saturday, the Thinking Football Film Festival offered an intense day of screenings that combined history, animation and stories of empowerment.

The programme included ‘One, Two, Three, Viva Algeria!’, a documentary that retraces the story of an iconic Algerian football slogan - from the FLN team during the War of Independence to the 2010 World Cup - showing its evolution as a symbol of social change.

Three short films were also screened, with the special participation of Palestinian footballer and activist Honey Thaljieh at the end of the session.

‘Girls Move Mountains’ told the story of Karishma, a young Wakhi woman who leads a women’s football tournament in the Karakoram mountains, challenging patriarchal norms and promoting gender equality under the guidance of her grandmother.

‘My Very Own Footballer!’ followed Sylvie and Karim, who invest their savings to fulfill their dream of signing a national football player, while ‘How the Cossacks played footballl’ revived a classic Ukrainian animated film, full of humor and adventure, from the 1970s

During the discussion following the screenings, Honey Thaljieh, an Athletic Club 125th anniversary ambassador, spoke about the club’s stance against genocide and in favour of peace and human rights.

“Bilbao is my second home. People show me their solidarity wherever I go," she said

"What happened on October 4 at the Athletic vs Mallorca match will never be forgotten - not by me, nor by the Palestinian people. Thank you for giving us a voice, for being our voice.”

Regarding Girls Move Mountains, she added: “I hope that one day we will no longer have to fight for our rights and that we can live in equality.

"This film represents the story of many women around the world who continue to fight for their rights - even in Europe.

“Football is magical. It moves emotions and passions in a unique way. The connection people have with football is immense. In many places, football means happiness, hope, unity. That’s because on the pitch, we are all equal. Football is so much more than winning or losing."
 

Sunday evening at 18:00 CEST, the festival will close with the screenings of ‘Love Lane United’ and ‘The Club That George Built’

On Sunday October 12, the Sala BBK will host the final session of the 13th edition with two special screenings: ‘Love Lane United’ and ‘The Club That George Built’.

‘Love Lane United’ tells the story of Benny, who, after losing his job and seeing his best friend emigrate, forms a makeshift Sunday League football team to hold on to the past, a decision that sparks a chaotic romance with his flatmate.

The festival will concluded with ‘The Club That George Built’, a remarkable film about George Dowell, who finds purpose in transforming his childhood club, Worthing FC, after an accident that changed his life.

The film documents George’s personal testimony of living with a disability while pursuing a career and fighting for his club’s promotion. George will attend the screening at Sala BBK to talk about the film.