From cricket and football to chess and hockey, Kolkata’s love for sports runs deep, and there’s good news for fans across disciplines. This time, sports enthusiasts are in for a cinematic treat as sports-themed films from India and across the world come together under one roof.
The International Sports Film Festival of India is set to be held at Nandan from February 4 to February 8. The fourth edition of the festival promises an exciting line-up, featuring films that celebrate iconic sporting journeys and legends, from Maradona to Messi, along with several surprises for viewers. The festival aims to bring together the worlds of sport and cinema, offering audiences a unique experience through stories of passion, perseverance and triumph.
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This event has been running since 2023 as a joint initiative of the Social Sports Foundation (SSF) and the Federation of Film Societies of India (FFSI). A total of 36 films from 17 countries will be shown during this five-day event. There are films in a total of 15 different languages. The films have been divided into three categories: fiction, non-fiction, and extreme sports. Out of the 36, 29 films are in the competitive section.
Among the 36 films, 'The Documentary of the 10' made about Maradona has come into discussion. The popular film 'Gold' starring Akshay Kumar, made about Indian hockey, will also be shown.
There's also the film 'Messi' made by Arnab Ringo Bandyopadhyay. Besides, there's a discussion about Mira Nair's 'Queen of Katwe'. Apart from these, many foreign films are also being discussed among sports enthusiasts.
International Sports Film Festival
FFSI Vice President Premendra Majumdar has spoken about this event. He said, "This event actually presents sports stories on the big screen while establishing connections between athletes, filmmakers, and culturally minded people. We get to know stories of struggle, success, failure, and inspiration related to various sports around the world. It's also a major platform for independent filmmakers outside the mainstream to showcase their work. It's also an important platform for sports documentaries."
