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John Hannah as Billy Bingham in Shooting for Socrates
Ulster footie film Shooting for Socrates has already scored support from world soccer’s ruling body FIFA.
In a first for FIFA it has agreed to plug the movie about Northern Ireland playing Brazil in the 1986 World Cup when it’s released later this year.
Its Vice President Jim Boyce, former head of the Irish Football Association, was central to securing the official support for the film, penned by Belfast playwright
The move will give the David-versus-Goliath tale of Northern Ireland taking on Brazil in 1986 a global platform.
At the launch of the trailer in Belfast last week Boyce revealed his clout in FIFA had got the top brass to watch Shooting for Socrates, and they loved it.
“You go to the top, not to the bottom. I showed it to the top people in FIFA who were very impressed with what they saw,” says Jim.
“They asked where did the footage come from. That’s what was recreated on the pitch.
“They loved it and it’s a brilliant film so it will be on FIFA’s social media sites from June.
“It will appeal to not only the football fans in Northern Ireland but football fans across the world.”
It’s the first time the soccer body has ever agreed to back a film but the feel good story struck a chord.
The film stars The Mummy actor John Hannah as Billy Bingham, who led minnows Northern Ireland into a World Cup battle against football giants Brazil, led by philosophy-loving Socrates de Souza.
It centres on the story of rookie David Campbell, played by Nico Mirallegro, who was BAFTA nominated last month for his role in The Village. Campbell was on the subs bench when he earned his first international cap in a dream spot against the best team in the world.
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Brazil legend Socrates
While the underdog team battles searing heat and impossible odds in Mexico, back home the film follows soccer mad Belfast boy Tommy, played by young Dracula Untold actor Art Parkinson, and his Samson and Goliath crane-driving dad Arthur, brought to life by Good Vibrations star Richard Dormer.
Game of Thrones and Suits star Conleth Hill takes on the role of sports commentator Jackie Fullerton and Shameless star Aaron McCusker is soccer legend Gerry Armstrong.
FIFA deputy Boyce says the last local football squads to qualify for the World Cup will always be remembered in Northern Ireland.
But he predicts it will be a near miracle for it to happen again, because of the increase in the number of teams competing and the changes in the make up of the
“Northern Ireland qualifying in 1982 and 1986 were tremendous days,” he says.
“Now it’s much more difficult. In the Premier League 65 per cent are foreign players. A young boy who goes across the water has got to be exceptional to play regularly in the top league.
“Clubs are not taking top young players from Northern Ireland across the water and giving them the opportunity because of the change in culture.
“Now I think there is so much money in the game that players are more worried about their own club career. Let’s hope we can get back to those days but it’s going to be very difficult,” he says.
New Black Films had hoped the movie would be out in time for this year's World Cup in Brazil but it’s currently in post-production and they're aiming for an autumn release.
Footballer David Campbell, who kicked off the project during a chance meeting on a yacht in Cannes when he was asked what his best soccer moment was, believes it will appeal to a wider audience than just football fans.
And he says the audience will get a laugh too at the portrayal of the Ulster lads trying to cope with the heat in Mexico.
“The first time we want for a walk we thought our teeth were going to burn out of us. We could hardly walk 20 yards and we were playing in a couple of weeks,” says David.