Africa United

Zico came to Iceland from Morocco to seek his fortune. After ten years running his own small business, Zico goes bankrupt. Desperate and depressed he decides to fire up his amateur team called Africa United and take them into the semi-professional 3rd division. He calls upon immigrants all over Iceland, players from Morocco, Nigeria, Colombia, Serbia, Kosovo, Gambia and Guinea to help realize his vision. The road to success is rocky and mid-season Africa United has lost all games; their best player walks out and Zico decides to meet his role-model in football in England for advice. Having done so, he comes back with fresh ideas on how to approach his goals in life and football.

Crew

Directed by

Olaf de Fleur
Director of Photography

Ragnar Santos, Benedikt Jóhannesson, Kristján Ottó Hreiðarsson
Music Composer

Barði Jóhannsson, Jóhann Hjörleifsson, Kjartan Hákonarson
Producer

Eva Maria Funch, Ragnar Santos, Olaf de Fleur, Benedikt Jóhannesson
Co-Producer

Sverrir Hreiðarsson, Barbara Tolevska, Flemming Grenz, Gunter Hanfgarn
Advisor

Dagur Kári, Lárus Ýmir Óskarsson
Aerial Photography

Jón Víglundsson, Jón Björnsson, Vertigo
Executive Producer

Skúli Fr. Malmquist, Þórir S. Sigurjónsson
Location Manager

Birgir Jóhannesson
Production Accountant

Sunneva Jóhannesdóttir
Production Assistant

Þórey Viðarsdóttir
Second Unit Photography

Emiliano Monaco, Einar Rafnsson, Jón Páll Pálsson, Viðar Oddgeirsson, Freyr Arnarson, Alexandra Krickic, Susanne Kellerman, Björn Björnsson (II)

About the film

Type

Documentary
National Premiere Date

October 21, 2005, Smárabíó
Length

80 min.
Language

English
Original Title

Africa United
International Title

Africa United
Production Year

2005
Production Countries

Iceland, Germany
IMDB

Africa United
Website

www.poppoli.com/af.html
Icelandic Film Centre Grant

Yes
Production Format

35mm
Aspect Ratio

1.85:1
Color

Yes
Sound

Stereo
Screening format and subtitles

35mm film with English sub,. Betacam SP with English sub., DigiBeta with English sub., Mini dv

Company Credits

Production Company

Poppoli Films
In Partnership With

Skífan ehf., Fotbolti.net
Co-Production Company

Zik Zak Filmworks, Bavaria
Supported by

Icelandic Film Centre, Nordic Film & TV Fond, UEFA

Festivals

2009
Summer Film School
2006
Bangkok International Film Festival
2006
Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema
2006
Thessaloniki Documentary Festival
2005
Edduverðlaunin/The Edda Awards - Award: Documentary of the Year. Nominated for Director of the Year. Nominated for Screenplay of the Year (Ólafur Jóhannesson).
2005
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
2005
Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival
2005
CPHDOX Festival
2005
Slovenian Film Festival
2005
Icelandic Film Festival

Releases

Poppoli ehf, 2005 - DVD