Captains Of Zaatari, Doc Edge Festival 2021 (Official Trailer)

Directed by Ali El Arabi. Two best friends, Mahmoud and Fawzi, living in the Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan, share an undying dream of becoming professional soccer players. Despite being confined under dire conditions, they remain hopeful and practice day in and day out. When a world-renowned sports academy visits, both have a chance to make this dream come true. Director Arabi tells a moving tale of two Syrian teenagers with a deep love for soccer and what their hopes and dreams can mean with a future of bleak limited options. This story is sensitively told with stunning cinematic artistry and precision, honouring the lives portrayed with authenticity and respect. El Arabi’s debut is ultimately rousing through its fluid, casual specificity, tracing a beautiful friendship that pledges to defy the odds. Doc Edge Festival 2021 will be in theatres (Auckland and Wellington) and online nationwide from 3 June until 11 July. Full programme release and tickets on sale, Tuesday 27 April. ​​ D