MAYA ZINSHTEIN | DUCKIN’ & DIVIN’ FILMS in association with PASSION PICTURES
FOREVER PURE A feature documentary by MAYA ZINSHTEIN
An inside look into the most controversial football club in Israel.
The feature documentary FOREVER PURE will be brought to you by director/producer Maya Zinshtein, producer Geoff Arbourne, Oscar winning producer John Battsek, acclaimed editors Justine Wright and Noam Amit, and award-winning composer Stephen Rennicks.
Our Kickstarter campaign is now underway! http://bit.ly/Help_Maya_and_her_Team_reach_their_GOAL
LOGLINE: Jerusalem, 2013. A secretive transfer deal by the owner and Israeli-Russian businessman Arcadi Gaydamak brought two young Muslim football players from Chechnya into the heart of Israel, the Jewish oriented Beitar Jerusalem F.C. - leading to the most racist campaign in Israeli sport. One season and one football team in crisis, and behind the story lurks the money and power that will send the club spiralling out of control.
This is a story about one of the most controversial football teams in Israel, Beitar Jerusalem F.C., and a symbol of right-wing politics in Israel. Situated in the city of three religions, with the largest fan base in the country, Beitar is the only club in the Premier League never to sign an Arab player.
A Jewish team in a Jewish state.
At the start of the 2012 Israeli football season, Beitar Jerusalem is top of the Premier League and aiming for a spotlight in European football. With the backing of the country’s most famous fans, the Israeli right-wing leaders, Beitar proudly gloats at the success of both the club and its politics.
The owner of Beitar, Arcadi Gaydamak, an Israeli-Russian businessman, bought the club eight years ago in the hope to become Mayor of Jerusalem. He created and financed the club’s radical fan base La Familia to serve his political cause. They are his ‘foot soldiers’ to becoming Mayor, and a loyal community for local Beitar players Kriaf and Harush, who grew up in Jerusalem during the Second Intifada and playing for Beitar means everything. It's not just their home club; it's their identity.
Mid-way through the season the entire squad is sent on a somewhat mysterious tour of the Chechen capital Grozny, welcomed by the Chechen President and chairman of the Terek Grozny team, Ramzan Kadyrov, in the most extravagant way. One month later, the reason for the visit becomes clear, owner Gaydamak agrees with his new Chechen business partner upon the secretive transfer deal to transport two Muslim players Sadaev and Kadiev to Beitar F.C.
A national scandal erupts across the city and the country, as widespread press coverage is placed on the newcomers. La Familia announce that they are going to fight for their principles; no Muslim player can play for Beitar.
From the euphoria of trying to win the championships and play in Europe, to the humiliation of losing every game as soon as the Chechens arrived. The two Muslim players, Sadaev and Kadiev – are pawns in someone else’s game. Two young naïve men found themselves surrounded by bodyguards, enclosed in a hotel. They arrived as football players and left as Muslims.
The local Beitar players were born and raised in Jerusalem, during the second Intifada. They are the product of that period, forced to confront their personal beliefs against their new teammates.
Beitar has the most famous fans – for the last 20 years the Israeli leaders from the right wing know that in order to win elections, you must go through the home of Beitar – Teddy stadium. For years, they were sat in the stands, hearing and approving by their silence the shouts of "death to all Arabs".
One season in a life of this team, is a story of Israeli society, personal identity, politics and money. An example for how racism is destroying a team and society from within.
LONDON, UK –
DIRECTOR’ STATEMENT
Two Muslim players entered the locker room of Beitar F.C and director Maya Zinshtein was there. She was the first person to welcome Zaur and Gabriel into Israel and the last to say goodbye. For years as a journalist at Haaretz newspaper she covered many of the ills of Israeli society.
Zaur and Gabriel were full of hope, telling her they’d just come to play football. No politics. This found Maya living from Saturday to Saturday, sitting in the stands, biting her nails, and hoping that the story that started so badly would change direction
Two young men were thrown into an impossible situation and forced to deal with it, alone. Withdrawing into themselves they lost all interest in the team and the championship. The anxiety of two mothers escalates due to the fate of their sons. The struggle of individuals, as chairman Kornfein and local Beitar player Ariel tried to battle against the flow but were defined as betrayers. The silence of the masses surrendered by the extreme.
For years, the club's management tried to evade the truth. Indeed, the fans’ protest was not in small numbers. Nearly ten thousand people every Saturday voted with their feet. The grandstands of Teddy stadium became lifeless. Maya’s aim in this film is to move beyond the clichés centred on public debate, enabling the viewer to look inside the team’s experience and possibly into themselves. Put a mirror to the Israeli society and show how racism is destroying a team and society from within.
An exclusive sneak peek of the teaser from the film is now available on the Kickstarter page. The filmmakers are aiming to raise £20,000 on Kickstarter and they’re offering unique rewards to backers.
About the Team
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER Maya Zinshtein is an Israeli filmmaker and journalist, who emigrated from Russia during her childhood - now living in Tel Aviv. She holds a BA in Cinema and French studies, and an MA in Security and Diplomacy from Tel Aviv University. She has produced five documentaries, among them: "Thieves by Law" (by Alexander Gentelev, ARTE/ZDF), the inside story of Russian Mafia. For years as an investigative journalist (Haaretz newspaper) she covered many of the ills of Israeli society and directed investigative stories for Israeli channels (Channel 2, Channel 9).
PRODUCER Geoff Arbourne was born in 1977, Devon, England. Studied social theory and popular culture in London and Bath, and began a PhD at the University of Johannesburg, before leaving to pursue a career in filmmaking. Since then he has been working as a producer - bouncing between Amsterdam and London. In 2010 he founded Duckin’ & Divin’ Films, an independent documentary house that explores the relationship between popular culture, anthropology and politics.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER John Battsek and Nicole Stott. IMDB Page
COMPOSER Stephen Rennicks IMDB Page
EDITOR Noam Amit IMDB Page
EDITOR Justine Wright IMDB Page
EDITOR (CONSULTANT) Joe Bini IMDB Page
CINEMATOGRAPHER Sergei (Israel) Freedman IMDB Page
CINEMATOGRAPHER Ross McDonnell IMDB Page
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