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Baghdad Messi
Promotional release poster
Directed by	Sahim Omar Kalifa
Screenplay by	Kobe Van Steenberghe
Story by	Kobe Van Steenberghe Ruth Mallaerts
Based on	Baghdad Messi by Sahim Omar Kalifa Kobe Van Steenberghe
Produced by	Hendrik Verthé Kobe Van Steenberghe
Starring	Ahmed Mohammed Abdullah
Cinematography	Anton Mertens
Edited by	Dorith Vinken
Music by	Frédéric Vercheval
Production companies	A Team Productions 10.80 Films Column Film Mitos Film
Distributed by	The Searchers
Release dates	January 28, 2023 (2023-01-28) (Filmfestival Oostende) April 12, 2023 (2023-04-12) (Belgium) August 3, 2023 (2023-08-03) (The Netherlands)
Running time	88 minutes
Countries	Belgium The Netherlands Germany Iraq
Languages	Arabic Kurdish
Box office	$40,528

Baghdad Messi (Arabic: ميسي بغداد) is a 2023 drama film directed by Sahim Omar Kalifa and with a screenplay by Kobe Van Steenberghe from a story by Kobe Van Steenberghe and Ruth Mallaerts. It is about an Iraqi boy who, after losing his leg in a terrorist attack, will fight to continue enjoying his passion: soccer. It is based on the 2012 short film of the same name by the same director. It is a co-production between Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Iraq.

It was selected as the Iraqi entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.

Synopsis

Hamoudi is a little boy of 11 who loves soccer and dreams of reaching the level of his idol Lionel Messi. One day he is the victim of an attempted suicide attack in Iraq, causing him to lose a leg. While his parents strive at all costs to protect the family, Hamoudi is determined to fight to make his shattered dream come true.

Cast

• Ahmed Mohammed Abdullah as Hamoudi
• Christian Renson as John
• Zahraa Ghandour as Salwa
• Atheer Adel
• Errol Trotman-Harewood as Duncan
• Atheer Adel
• Safa Najem
• Adil Abdulrahman
• Hussein Hassan as Bahoz
• Ravand Zaid as Soldier 1
• Saman Mustefa as Soldier 2
• Bangen Ali as Check Point Soldier

Production

Principal photography took place in 2021 within the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, the same place where the short film was recorded.

Release

Festivals

It had its world premiere on January 28, 2023, at the Ostend Film Festival, then screened on March 5, 2023, at the Luxembourg City Film Festival, on June 10, 2023, at the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival, and on April 25, 2024, at the Malmo Arab Film Festival.

Theatrical

It was commercially released on April 12, 2023, in Belgian theaters, and on August 3, 2023, in Dutch theaters.

Accolades

See also

• List of submissions to the 97th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
• List of Iraqi submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film

References

1. "Meer info over langspeelfilmversie Baghdad Messi onthuld". Vertigo (in Dutch). 2021-06-28. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
2. "Baghdad Messi". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
3. "Baghdad Messi". Nederlands Film Festival. 2024-02-24. Archived from the original on 2024-02-24. Retrieved 2024-08-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
4. "La coproduction belge 'Baghdad Messi' représentera l'Irak aux Oscars". RTBF (in French). Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
5. "Baghdad Messi to be Iraq's entry for 2025 Oscars". Rudaw Media Network. August 27, 2024. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
6. "Baghdad Messi, première coproduction de The Searchers, sélectionné au Festival du Film d'Ostende". The Searchers. 22 December 2022. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
7. Rasheed, Hunar. "Baghdad Messi begins filming in Kurdistan Region". Rudaw Media Network. Archived from the original on 2024-07-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
8. "Baghdad Messi maakt indruk op het Filmfestival van Oostende! - Cinevox" (in Dutch). 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
9. "Baghdad Messi". Lux Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
10. "New Activities Announced as Belt and Road Film Week Kicks Off". Shanghai International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
11. "Baghdad Messi". Malmo Arab Film Festival. 2024-03-09. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
12. "Op de première van Baghdad Messi!". Cinevox (in Dutch). 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
13. Jonk, Erik (2023-08-02). "Baghdad Messi: je bent 11, hebt een voetbaldroom, maar verliest een been..." Metronieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-08-28.
14. "LOOK!-competition 2023". Filmfestival Oostende. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
15. "2023 The Belt and Road Film Week Film Line-up". Shanghai International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
16. "Shanghai International Film Festival (2023)". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
17. "Winners | SCHLINGEL - Internationales Filmfestival". International Film Festival for Children and Young Audience. 2024-08-28. Archived from the original on 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
18. "26th Annual Arpa International Film Festival Official Selection (2023)". Arpa International Film Festival. 2023-09-24. Archived from the original on 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
19. "WINNERS of the 26th Arpa International Film Festival (2023)". Arpa International Film Festival. 2023-11-25. Archived from the original on 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-28.

External links

• Baghdad Messi at IMDb
• Official Page

• 2023 films
• 2023 drama films
• Belgian drama films
• Dutch drama films
• German drama films
• Iraqi drama films
• 2020s Arabic-language films
• Kurdish-language films
• Films set in Iraq
• Films shot in Iraq
• Films set in 2009
• Films based on short fiction
• Films about children
• Films about amputees
• 2020s Belgian films
• 2020s German films