Desert Fire (2016)
In summer 2016, an extraordinary tournament took place: football's ‘rebel' world cup for stateless nations, minority ethnic groups and unrecognised territories. This surreal and vibrant spectacle is viewed through the eyes of the Kurdistan players and coach.
The Kurdistan football team represent the Kurds of war-torn Iraq and are among the favourites to win the tournament. Their coach experienced first-hand Saddam Hussein's brutal repression of the Kurds and is now determined to push his sportsmen to victory. Players converge from all over the region – some leave behind their normal jobs, others take leave from the peshmerga military forces of Iraqi Kurdistan, which fights Islamic State just 40 miles from the training ground.
NOMINATED RTS Television Journalisms Awards 2017
Producer/Director - Jack Losh
Producer/Director - Sebastien Rabas
Cinematography - Sebastien Rabas
Editor - Piers Dennis
Executive Producer - Christian Bennett
Executive Producer - Charlie Phillips
Commissioned by the Guardian and Bertha Foundation - you can view the full film here.
Find out more about Kurdistan and the Conifa cup in this Weekend Magazine article written by co-director, Jack Losh.
