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roducer Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s latest feature documentary, featuring football icon David Beckham in a guest appearance, I Am Somebody, tells the story of six street-connected children who are chosen to represent their country at the Street Child World Cup in Qatar. Some of them are from the streets of Brazil and Bangladesh, some come from poor families in Pakistan and another is from a refugee camp in Palestine.
I Am Somebody was awarded the Guirlande d’Honneur for best film in the category “Football feature films” at the 40th Sport Movies & TV - Milano International FICTS Fest (Federation Internationale Cinema Television Sportifs - recognized by the International Olympic Committee), which is considered as the world championship of sports films.
I Am Somebody is directed by Jamillah van der Hulst from The Netherlands, with assistant director Dina Amin from Palestine and Rio unit director Maria Clara Costa from Brazil. Mike Downey, producer, and the chairman of the European Film Academy and a longtime human rights activist and defender of the rights of street children, and Stephen Daldry, nominee of three Academy Awards for Best Director, are among the involved Executive Producers of the film.
Producer Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy said, “Encouraging and rehabilitating street children, offering them a chance to thrive, is something that is commendable. Our journey to capture the stories of these young talents on the streets of Pakistan, showcasing their determination to shine at the World Cup, and proving that they are just as capable as anyone else, serves as an inspiration for all of us. It’s films like these that make you realize that it is so important to create opportunities for young people. We’re excited to share the film with the rest of the world.”