Yvan Sorel runs a MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) club in Marseille's "Quartier nord", a district of the city mainly known in the media for its drug trafficking, gang shootings and kalashnikovs. Day after day, all on his own, with no support from the state, which gave up on this area a long time ago, he fights to keep the children and teenagers on the right path. A film about violence, education, moral values, faith and dignity.

A film by Nicolas Wadimoff

Switzerland / France, November 2014, Documentary, 80 min, DCP.

Coproduction with Swiss director

Directed by: Nicolas Wadimoff
Written by: Nicolas Wadimoff

Original Version: French, colour, DCP, 80 min.
ISAN

Production: Akka Films, Alegria Productions, SRG SSR
Producer: Jean Golinelli
Executive Producer: Nicolas Wadimoff

Cinematography: Joseph Areddy
Editing: Jean-Daniel Schneider
Location Sound Mix: Carlos Ibañez-Diaz
Sound Editing: Carlos Ibañez-Diaz

World Sales: Doc & Film International
Distribution Switzerland: Filmcoopi Zürich AG
Distribution Canada: Filmbuff
Distribution USA: Filmbuff

World Premiere: November 2014

Awards
Haarlem GX, Plein Les Yeux - Frans Film Festival, Prix du meilleur film francophone 2015
Palm Springs CA, American Documentary Film Festival, Amdocs 2015 John Drew Verite Award 2015
Skopje, MakeDox, Special Mention of the Jury 2015
Solothurn, Solothurner Filmtage, Prix de Soleure 2015

Festivals
Tbilisi, 16th Tbilisi International Film Festival, 30.11.2015 - 06.12.2015
Tübingen, 32. Französische Filmtage Tübingen, 04.11.2015 - 11.11.2015
Montpellier, 37e Festival international du cinéma méditerranéen de Montpellier, Competition, 24.10.2015 - 31.10.2015
Prizren, 14th Dokufest International Documentary and Short Film Festival Prizren, 08.08.2015 - 16.08.2015
Skopje, 6th MakeDox Creative Documentary Film Festival Skopje, Competition, 20.06.2015 - 26.06.2015
Haarlem GX, 1er PLEIN LES YEUX - Frans Film Festival, Competition, 03.06.2015 - 07.06.2015
Barcelona, 18th DocsBarcelona International Documentary Film Festival, Competition, 25.05.2015 - 31.05.2015
Agadir, 7e Festival international du documentaire à Agadir, 04.05.2015 - 09.05.2015
Nyon, 21e Visions du Réel Festival international de cinéma Nyon, 17.04.2015 - 25.04.2015
Buenos Aires, 17° Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente, Competition, 15.04.2015 - 25.04.2015
Madison, 17th Wisconsin Film Festival, 09.04.2015 - 16.04.2015
Palm Springs CA, 4th American Documentary Film Festival, Competition, 26.03.2015 - 30.03.2015
Solothurn, 50. Solothurner Filmtage, Competition, 22.01.2015 - 29.01.2015
Montréal, 17e RIDM Rencontres internationales du documentaire Montréal, 12.11.2014 - 23.11.2014


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DE

Yann Sorel, 24 Jahre alt, hat sein Leben selbst in die Hand genommen. In den Quartieren im Norden Marseilles hat er einen Club für Mixed-Martial-Arts (MMA) gegründet. Der Kämpfer hat es ganz ohne Hilfe geschafft, die Farben Frankreichs zu vertreten, und tritt an die Stelle der öffentlichen Hand. Über den Sport bläut er den Kleinen der Cité Bellevue ein, was Respekt und Toleranz heisst.

Ein Film von Nicolas Wadimoff

Schweiz, 2015, 83 min Doc