Select Page

Baghdad Messi

Baghdad Messi (Arabic: ميسي بغداد) is a 2023 drama film directed by Sahim Omar Kalifa, with a screenplay by Kobe Van Steenberghe from a story by Kobe Van Steenberghe and Ruth Mallaerts. It is about an Iraqi boy who, after losing his leg in a terrorist attack, fights to continue pursuing his passion for soccer.[3] It is based on the 2012 short film of the same name by the same director. It is a co-production between Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Iraq.[4]

It was selected as the Iraqi entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.[5]

Synopsis

Hamoudi is an 11-year-old boy who loves soccer and dreams of reaching the level of his idol, Lionel Messi. One day he is the victim of an attempted suicide attack in Iraq, which causes him to lose a leg. While his parents do everything they can to protect the family, Hamoudi is determined to fight to make his shattered dream come true.[6]

Cast

  • Ahmed Mohammed Abdullah as Hamoudi
  • Christian Renson as John
  • Zahraa Ghandour as Salwa
  • Atheer Adel
  • Errol Trotman-Harewood as Duncan
  • Atheer Adel
  • Safa Najem
  • Adil Abdulrahman
  • Hussein Hassan as Bahoz
  • Ravand Zaid as Soldier 1
  • Saman Mustefa as Soldier 2
  • Bangen Ali as Check Point Soldier

Production

Principal photography took place in 2021 in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, the same location where the short film was filmed.[7]

Release

Festivals

It had its world premiere on January 28, 2023, at the Ostend Film Festival,[8] and was later screened on March 5, 2023, at the Luxembourg City Film Festival,[9] on June 10, 2023, at the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival,[10] and on April 25, 2024, at the Malmo Arab Film Festival.[11]

Theatrical

It was commercially released on April 12, 2023, in Belgian theaters,[12] and on August 3, 2023, in Dutch theaters.[13]

Accolades

Year Award / Festival Category Recipient Result Ref.
2023 Ostend Film Festival Look Prize for Best Film Baghdad Messi Nominated [14]
Ensor - Best Director Sahim Omar Kalifa Nominated
Ensor - Best Cinematography Anton Mertens Nominated
25th Shanghai International Film Festival Audience Choice Award for Film Baghdad Messi Nominated [15][16]
Media Choice Award for Film Nominated
SCHLiNGEL - International Film Festival for Children and Young Audience Award of the Junior Jury Won [17]
26th Arpa International Film Festival Best Feature Narrative Film Won [18][19]
Best Director Sahim Omar Kalifa Won
Best Screenplay Kobe Van Steenberghe Won

See also

References

  1. ^ "Meer info over langspeelfilmversie Baghdad Messi onthuld". Vertigo (in Dutch). 2021-06-28. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  2. ^ "Baghdad Messi". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  3. ^ "Baghdad Messi". Nederlands Film Festival. 2024-02-24. Archived from the original on 2024-02-24. Retrieved 2024-08-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ "La coproduction belge 'Baghdad Messi' représentera l'Irak aux Oscars". RTBF (in French). Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  5. ^ "Baghdad Messi to be Iraq's entry for 2025 Oscars". Rudaw Media Network. August 27, 2024. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  6. ^ "Baghdad Messi, première coproduction de The Searchers, sélectionné au Festival du Film d'Ostende". The Searchers. 22 December 2022. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  7. ^ Rasheed, Hunar. "Baghdad Messi begins filming in Kurdistan Region". Rudaw Media Network. Archived from the original on 2024-07-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  8. ^ "Baghdad Messi maakt indruk op het Filmfestival van Oostende! - Cinevox" (in Dutch). 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  9. ^ "Baghdad Messi". Lux Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  10. ^ "New Activities Announced as Belt and Road Film Week Kicks Off". Shanghai International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  11. ^ "Baghdad Messi". Malmo Arab Film Festival. 2024-03-09. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  12. ^ "Op de première van Baghdad Messi!". Cinevox (in Dutch). 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  13. ^ Jonk, Erik (2023-08-02). "Baghdad Messi: je bent 11, hebt een voetbaldroom, maar verliest een been..." Metronieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  14. ^ "LOOK!-competition 2023". Filmfestival Oostende. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  15. ^ "2023 The Belt and Road Film Week Film Line-up". Shanghai International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  16. ^ "Shanghai International Film Festival (2023)". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  17. ^ "Winners | SCHLINGEL - Internationales Filmfestival". International Film Festival for Children and Young Audience. 2024-08-28. Archived from the original on 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  18. ^ "26th Annual Arpa International Film Festival Official Selection (2023)". Arpa International Film Festival. 2023-09-24. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  19. ^ "WINNERS of the 26th Arpa International Film Festival (2023)". Arpa International Film Festival. 2023-11-25. Archived from the original on 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-28.