Football international
11mm – From Wembley to Israel
11mm, the biggest football festival in the world, starts with a political message: football is more than just a game. It connects people and transcends borders. And Europe may need its unifying force.
The football people around the world closer together. Also, when it comes to some of the most controversial moments of the sport. At least, if these moments are shown in a compelling Film.
Take the famous “Wembley goal” as an example. This controversial shot in the 1966 world Cup final, is a sensitive issue for the Germans. Many are still convinced that you, at the time, the final injustice of the goal in the 101. Minute have lost. At the time, a shot by England’s Geoff Hurst of the crossbar and bounced straight down.
Until today, the German not to mention tired, that the Ball had never crossed the goal line. While the English say is true, that the hit was recognized.
This infamous Moment has become the subject of a major documentary that premiered in Berlin world premiere. It was at the opening of the 13. Edition of the International 11mm football film festival in Berlin, presented and provided for a lively conversation.
Suitable hence the Name of the documentation: it’s called “Goal” and is of the 1966 world Cup. In addition to the controversial Finale, there is also other memorable moments. So also the Queen theme and the story is a gone Cup. The Film also benefits from a historic Moment: The 1966 world Cup was the first world Cup ever to be broadcast on television – in black/white.
Wembley bring it to life
Shortly before the screening of the movie “Goal!”
The 11mm Festival is the largest of its kind, entirely dedicated to football. The Premiere of “Goal”, attracted an international audience and aroused – even five decades after “Wembley” is still a lot of exciting memories.
“So a goal would not be possible nowadays,” said Andreas Leimbach-Niaz, the Deputy Director of the festival. “Today would tell us the goal-line technology after 30 seconds, if the Ball was behind the line, or not. And we wouldn’t be talking decades later. But was the line judge of a monument in Azerbaijan and the referee has written a book about it. And that’s exactly why we’re here, to remind us of these special moments of football.”
On the opening evening, a man as the guest of honor was present, remembers quite clearly at this Moment: The former German national team player Max Lorenz.
The Ball was definitely in,” he says. Lorenz was a replacement player for the German national team and had followed the famous gate of the Bank. “That’s why I had to angle also a really good view and can say that the Ball was not in it,” he says with an eye kennels.
His two colleagues, and former players, Siegfried held, Horst-Dieter Höttges came to the film festival, to talk about the good old days.
Former national player Max Lorenz when you give autographs
Through football the world, get to know
“We played the world Cup of 1966 in England the best national team, the Germany has ever had. Something you never forget,” said Lorenz while he was before the beginning of the screening of the film photograph.
“Through our football we have come to know the world. I’ll be forever grateful.” And this is also the Motto of this year’s film festivals. “We are so international as never before,” said Andreas Leimbach-Niaz. “We have filmmakers from Japan and Australia here; it is incredible that you all came. So we would have expected at the start of the festival in 2007, never.”
“Football brings people together”
“Football is something that brings people together. Not only as a colleague,” says Lorenz while he was smiling at the students in his former team. “Soccer unites Nations!” The opening night is the best example of Lorenz’ rates. The room is filled with good-humored people of different nationalities. No matter whether German, English, Italian, French or Arabs.
Rafiqullah Mangal and his friends embody this diversity perfectly. They are refugees from Afghanistan and love the Bundesliga and Bayern Munich, more than quite a few people from Bavaria. “People in Afghanistan watch very much football. This evening reminds me of a night four years ago, as we have all seen for the first Time a football match in Kabul,” he says, and laughs.
Leimbach-Diaz sees this as a sign that the football itself is becoming more global. The boundaries are now so strictly as in the past. “Now, we still need to learn how we can all each other come closer.” Football can play an important role.”A lot of people don’t realize how powerful this Sport can be.”
Europe is wrestling with a growing refugee crisis and a potential exit of the UK from the EU. Maybe the upcoming UEFA European championship, which starts in June, can help to reduce these problems.”
What is to come
The 11mm Festival goes until 21. March and shows a variety of documentaries and films. On French, Belgian, German and English. Both for adults and for children. In this year France, the host of the EM, will present a film series at the Festival
Three young Afghan refugees on the Festival
During the festival, many special guests are expected, for example, Shmuel Rosenthal, the first Israeli has ever played in the German Bundesliga. In spite of the difficult Situation between Germany and Israel after the second world war. Rosenthal is a further proof that Integration can be achieved through football.
90 minutes for Israel and Germany
The movie “90 minutes for Israel and Germany” honors Rosenthal’s services, as well as the German-Israeli relations, which were strengthened by the football. Extra for this Film is Rosenthal return for the first time, after his time in Mönchengladbach, Germany. He will not only meet some of his former team-mates again, but also Almog Cohen, an Israeli soccer star who currently plays in the German Bundesliga.
The Festival is rounded off with the 11mm-short film festival “short kicks”. DW columnist and world champion in 1990, Thomas Berthold, will be part of the Jury.
The DW-Bundesliga-program Kick-off! is a long-standing Partner of the 11mm football film festival. In the context of the upcoming Kick-off Specials on the 24. March will be broadcast on DW-TV the football documentary “football & Film”.