Athletic Club’s world-renowned football film festival is back for a 12th year, here’s some information about the event and how to get tickets.
What is Thinking Football?
One of the Athletic Club‘s Foundation’s flagship events, it forms part of their ‘cultural project’, along with a literature festival, Letters & Football, that’s held later on in the season.
The film festival is not only unique in the world of football but also in the cinematic world. There are very few festivals dedicated to football-related cinema and this is the only one run by a top-level club.
Since 2013, Thinking Football has screened, and in some cases premiered, acclaimed football films and documentaries, including: The Class of ’92, Looking For Eric, Next Goal Wins, I Believe in Miracles, Kenny, Kaiser, Howard’s Way, Finding Jack Charlton, Tigrar, Green Lions, Marinette and Mighty Penguins.
AC Fundazioa, Athletic Club Foundation’s official name, plays a vital role in connecting the club with the local community, and their cultural projects are designed to show that there is a bridge between football and culture that can be beneficial to both.
The films chosen are specifically selected as they use football to discuss important topics in society, such as racism, LGBTQ+ rights, mental health and identity.
There are usually two screenings an evening at the Sala BBK on Gran Via, one at 18:00 and another at 20:00, with the films’ makers and/or protagonists often taking part in a Q&A session with a moderator and the audience after the showing.
The films are always shown in their original language and are typically subtitled in Spanish and Basque, and sometimes English.
Tickets for each showing are free, but due to capacity they are given out on a first-come, first-serve basis, and must be reserved on the festival’s website.
Thinking Football 2024 Line-up
Once again, this year’s festival has an exciting line-up with plenty of acclaimed films and documentaries, here is the schedule for the 2024 edition.
This year the event will run from November 18-21, take a weekend break for the Basque Derby at San Mames, and return on November 25 and 26.
Monday November 18 (18:00)
The Last Taboo
Germany, 2024.
94 minutes
Directed by Manfred Oldenburg
Starring former Premier League footballer and Germany international Thomas Hitzslperger, this documentary explores homosexuality and homophobia in football via the accounts and experiences of 10 players.
Hitzslperger and Amal Fashanu, niece of the late Justin Fashanu, will both be in attendance.
Tuesday November 19 (18:00 & 20:00)
The Football Aficionado
Iran, 2022.
87 minutes
Directed by Sharmin Mojtahedzadeh & Paliz Khoshdel
This social documentary follows Zahra, a 27-year-old female football fan from Tehran who disguises herself as a man to get into football stadiums in Iran to watch her favourite team play.
Copa 71
United Kingdom, 2023.
90 minutes
Directed by James Erskine & Rachel Ramsay
This documentary looks back at the first ever women’s football World Cup, a huge commerical and social success that should have been a watershed moment in the sport’s history, but instead has largely been overlooked and forgotten about.
Wednesday November 20 (18:00, 20:00 & 20:10)
Campos
Spain, 2023.
72 minutes
Directed by Óscar Falagán & David Casado
Campos is a journey through the increasingly empty towns of rural Spain via their respective football pitches. Each football pitch acts as a representative of the town, a place full of life and memories.
Greenland: Santa Cruz del Islote
USA, 2020
9 minutes
Directed by Martin Fradkin
Part of a wider ESPN series exploring football in the most remote places on Earth. This particular episode looks at Santa Cruz del Islote, a tiny Islet with a population of 800 people about 70 kilometres of the coast of Colombia, where the football pitch lies at the heart of the islet’s community.
Colombia: Road to Glory
Colombia, 2024.
85 minutes
Directed by Luis Ara
After a disastrous campaign at World Cup 1994, and the subsequent tragedy that befell star defender Andres Escobar, the Colombian national team went on a rebuilding journey that eventually led to a historic triumph at the 2001 Copa America.
Thursday November 21 (18:00 & 20:00)
As primeiras
Brazil, 2024.
78 minutes
Directed by Adriana Yañez
The main winner at the 2024 SoFoot Festival, ‘As primeiras’ (The First Ones) recounts the experiences of the women who made up Brazil’s first ever women’s national football team.
Los Williams
The Basque Country, 2024.
Directed by Raúl de la Fuente
A look at the lives of Athletic Club’s superstar brothers, Iñaki and Nico Williams, from their parents’ perilous journey across the Sahara to the brothers’ participation at the Qatar World Cup with different national teams, and, of course, their role in Athletic’s momentous 2024 Copa del Rey victory.
Monday November 25 (17:00 & 19:00)
Volver a vivir (Live again)
Spain and Italy, 1968.
103 minutes
Directed by Mario Camus
This Mario Camus classic tells the story of Luis Rubio, a former footballer with a dark past who returns to Spain after a stint playing and managing in Latin America.
Looking For Eric
United Kingdom, 2009.
119 minutes
Directed by Ken Loach
Considered by many the best football film ever produced, Ken Loach’s masterpiece centres around the character of Eric Bishop, a man who starts to see visions of Eric Cantona while going through a life crisis.
Tuesday November 26 (17:00 & 19:00)
Hamaika andra zurigorri (Eleven Red-and-White Women)
The Basque Country, 2024.
70 minutes
Directed by Akaitze Kamiruaga
This documentary features the testimonies of around 30 pioneering figures who helped pave the way for women’s rights at Athletic Club.
Weekend Rebels
Germany, 2023.
109 minutes
Directed by Marc Rothemund
The 2024 Thinking Football Film Festival closes with Weekend Rebels. Based on a true story, this film depicts the relationship between Mirco and his autistic son Jason as they go on a journey through the Bundesliga to find a team to support.
Don’t forget, if you would like to attend a screening, you must reserve your free ticket here.
