Soccer in the City
Soccer is not only the world’s most popular sport but also the world’s most democratic - needing only a round ball and a rectangular space within which to kick it. With 265 million professional players, upwards of 3.4 billion fans, worldwide revenue in excess of 30 billion dollars, countless youth leagues, and pick-up games in every city, village and remote outpost in the world. It’s almost impossible to find a corner of the planet where there isn’t a game of some description going on right now.
Except maybe the United States.
Soccer in the City will explore the relationship between soccer and inner-city America. We will shine a light on some of the incredible success stories, dedicated volunteers and inspirational moments that come from integrating soccer and inner-cities, while at the same time looking at the problems posed by the "pay to play" system, and the very real possibility that a generation of talent has been left on the bench by lack of access to the sport.
Our film will examine the systems and structures that keep inner-city and low-income kids out of soccer, how soccer could be used as a successful tool to keep kids healthy and happy, and ultimately how exclusivity stifles our talent pool and hurts America’s chances of winning on the global stage. The 2026 World Cup is coming to America -- will we be ready?
Soccer in the City will feature some of the biggest names in sports -- not just soccer -- as well as compelling characters, working to make soccer the next "city game." We will show how soccer and cities should work together to better each other, how the current "pay to play" system, pervasive in youth soccer helps neither the game nor kids who could benefit from more access, and tell compelling stories about America's success and failures on and off the pitch.
Visit our website soccerinthecity.net for our sizzle reel!
A Nonprofit Film
This is a nonprofit film! All proceeds from the film will go to DC SCORES, which creates neighborhood teams that give kids in need the confidence and skills to succeed on the playing field, in the classroom, and in life. Check out their website here: https://www.dcscores.org/
(Indiegogo has verified our nonprofit status)
What We Need
Your contributions will enable us to put more on the screen and to make sure that more people know about this project.
Specifically, additional funding will go to:
Marketing during production: we want people to know about the film while we're making it, and to contribute stories, images, ideas, etc.
Additional production elements: travel, animations, music, etc.
Film festival and award entry
PR and advertising once the film is released
Community outreach and engagement while the film is playing
Our Team
Michael Holstein (Director; Executive Producer) began his career writing on HBO’s The Wire, and working in marketing and promotions on films such as The Rock and Independence Day. Michael went on to oversee Business Affairs in Washington, DC, representing WETA-TV, one of the nation’s largest public television producers, working on hundreds of shows, including In Performance At the White House, The PBS NewsHour, Finding Your Roots, and the documentaries of Ken Burns. Michael also served as Chief Content Officer for The Content Farm, overseeing marketing and communications, and directing and producing award-winning content for cable, digital, linear TV and social media platforms, placing shows on networks including Bravo, Ovation, Amazon and Travel Channel. Michael is a member of the Producer’s Guild of America, the Grammy's, and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and was recently named an “Economic Ambassador” for Washington DC.
Judy Plavnick Kiley (Senior Producer) is a nine-time nominated, six-time Emmy award-winning producer, having written, field and studio produced and directed programming for networks including PBS, Discovery, ESPN and NFL Films. Her career has also included positions as Network Executive at both Discovery and ESPN, overseeing hundreds of hours of network programming, from documentaries to several of the highest rated network series. She began her television career covering politics for both local and national broadcast outlets before moving into the sports and non-fiction arenas.
Judy has served as a judge and Blue Ribbon Panelist for primetime Emmy awards events and is currently a Blue Ribbon Panelist for the Sports Emmy Awards as well as a member of the Grand Jury for the New York Festivals, International Film and Television awards.
Ahsan Naeem (Writer, Associate Producer) is a former music industry executive turned scriptwriter working across stage and screen. Born in Manchester to Pakistani parents, and raised in Manchester and Los Angeles, he currently resides in Paris, France. In 2008 whilst working as an A&R executive for Columbia Records, Ahsan was given the opportunity to write a one-act play for the independent theatre company in Antwerp, Belgium. The resulting play, Date Me was taken across the USA, and after it’s run, he decided to leave behind his career in the music industry and roll the dice as a writer. In 2017 actress Toni Collette optioned Ahsan’s script State Lottery and the film now has director Claire McCarthy attached. Also in early 2017 Isolani Pictures in Paris optioned Ahsan’s television series, The Baker’s Son which dealt with themes to do with second-generation immigrants in Europe.
Bill Hoffman (Picture Editor) is a two-time Emmy award-winning editor, producer and motion graphic designer. A seasoned post-production veteran with twenty years experience, Bill’s scope of experience encompasses short and long form broadcast television, commercial and promo spot work, corporate videos and sports and live events. Bill has worked on a wide range of productions including TLC’s Trading Spaces, ESPN’s X-Games and Fox Sports NFL’s series, Under the Helmet. A highly skilled producer/editor, Bill’s resume includes Video Editor, NFL Films and most recently, Senior Video Editor at Discovery Communications.
Mike Greenberg (Director of Photography) is an NYC based hands-on filmmaker specializing in adventure, travel, sports, documentaries. He combines commercial production value with a skate-creator aesthetic to tell beautiful yet intimate stories. In the soccer space, Mike is the director of Emmy nominated series F2 Finding Football (8 x 22’ YouTube Premium) for Whistle. A camera nerd through and through, when not shooting a project, he can be found roaming national parks, snowboarding or biking with a "small" camera kit nearby.
Associate Producers
Josephine Ullman
Stephen Sullivan
Meredith Bartley
Other Ways You Can Help
Do you have any ideas for a city, a soccer star, or a story we should explore? Let us know!
Share our IndieGoGo page on social media
Follow us on social media (@SITCMovie on Instagram and Twitter; and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SITCMovie)
Visit SoccerintheCity.net for more info!
Cheer us on!
