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MUMBAI:
Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has acquired
the international distribution rights to the feature length
FIFA-supported docu-drama More Than Just A Game, from
Distant Horizon.
The
docu-drama stars Presley Chweneyagae (Tsotsi) and tells the
dramatic and little-known story of organized football played
among prisoners on Robben Island in South Africa where Nobel
Peace Prize Winner Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years
in prison. The announcement was made today by SPTI president
Michael Grindon, and Distant Horizon CEO Anant Singh.
Told through the stories of five former prisoners, More
Than Just A Game follows the story of how political activists
who were unjustly imprisoned on Robben Island in the 1960s
rise above their incarceration by creating a football league,
the Makana Football Association (Makana FA), and find an outlet
for their passion and commitment to discipline through football.
This
deal comes on the heels of Sony Corporation's global partnership
deal with FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association)
that went into effect in January of this year.
As a FIFA Partner, the highest level of sponsorship status
which is accorded to only six companies, Sony will be the
official Digital Life sponsor of over 40 FIFA events, including
the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and the FIFA World
Cup in 2014 due to be held in South America.
Grindon stated, "This is truly an inspirational story
and we are pleased to be working with Distant Horizon to bring
this amazing tale of hope to audiences around the world. We
are also pleased to continue our association with FIFA, as
they recently announced their support for the film and it
is a timely acquisition for SPTI in light of the fact that
the next FIFA World Cup is being held in South Africa."
Producer Singh added, "We at Distant Horizon are thrilled
to be working with Sony Pictures Television International
on the international distribution of More Than Just A Game.
The film has relevance not only to people in South Africa,
but to people around the world. When considering this project,
I felt that there was potential for this film because it is
a story about human beings trying to succeed against all odds
and to survive using football as their inspiration, which
in everybody else's terms, was very simple. More Than Just
A Game is a tribute to the people on Robben Island who fought
for the privilege to play football."
"The
Makana FA and Robben Island have great symbolic significance
in FIFA's fight to eradicate racism and all forms of discrimination
from football and society as a whole. We are very proud that,
thanks to our Partner Sony, its subsidiary Sony Pictures Television
International and producer Anant Singh have teamed up to distribute
this unique docu-drama More than Just a Game around
the world. The film shows just how football can help to build
a better future," commented FIFA president Joseph S.
Blatter.
The movie's worldwide premiere is scheduled around the Preliminary
Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup taking place in Durban, South
Africa on 24 November 2007. The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be
held in South Africa from 10 June through 11 July.
More Than Just A Game is a Distant Horizon production
in association with Telkom Media and Distant Horizon, with
script development supported by the National Film and Video
Foundation of South Africa (NFVF). It is executive produced
by Sudhir Pragjee and Sanjeev Singh and produced by Anant
Singh and Helena Spring with Chuck Korr, Lord Ted Rowlands,
Dave Crowe and Hannelie Bekker co-producing. The screenplay
is by Tom Eaton and it is directed by Junaid Ahmed.
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