ABOUT BECOMING ZLATAN
The decisive years of Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, told through rare archival footage where a young Zlatan speaks openly about his life and challenges.The film closely follows Zlatan, from his debut in Malmö FF in 1999, through his conflictual years with Ajax Amsterdam, up to the final breakthrough with Juventus in 2005. BECOMING ZLATAN is a coming-of-age film, depicting the complicated journey of this young, talented and troubled player who finally becomes a superstar in the international football world.
It’s a story about a young talent living under constant pressure. From the teammates in Malmö who think he’s too egoistic and only plays for himself. From the tough managers of Ajax who send him to the bench, where he loses his self-confidence. From his father who tells the 18 year old Zlatan: You’re nothing. You’re nothing special until you’ve succeeded internationally.
Throughout his journey, Zlatan stays true to himself. When he finally succeeds in Italy he also closes the doors to his personal life. Football superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic is an enigma, but in this story from his breakthrough years, he – for a moment – gives some glimpses into who he really is.
ABOUT THE DIRECTORS
Fredrik Gertten is an award-winning Swedish director and journalist.
His latest works Bikes vs Cars (2015), BIG BOYS GONE BANANAS!* (2012) and BANANAS!* (2009) have met audiences in over 80 countries including leading festivals such as Sundance, Berlinale, Hot Docs, Toronto,IDFA, Melbourne IFF, Sao Paulo IFF and Sheffield.
In 1994, Fredrik founded the production company WG Film. He previously worked as a foreign correspondent and columnist for radio, TV and press in Africa, Latin America, Asia and around Europe. Today he combines filmmaking with a role as a creative producer at WG Film – famous for local stories with a global understanding, with several films catching the identity and transformation of his hometown.
Magnus Gertten, director and producer, previously TV- and radio journalist, has directed a number of award-winning documentaries including Rolling Like a Stone, A Thousand Pieces, Harbour of Hope, Long Distance Love, and the True Blue films.
He is the producer behind the dvd-series From Malmö with Love; a DVD series based on archive footage depicting the city of Malmö through the ages from a historic point of view. Magnus started the production company Auto Images together with Stefan Berg in 1998.
Magnus latest achievement is the multi-award winning Every Face Has A Name which has screened at festivals and in cinemas worldwide and also received a Guldbagge award nomination.
PRESSKIT
PRODUCTION INFO
Title: Becoming Zlatan
Genre: Documentary
Release year: 2016
Length: 96 min
CREDITS
Director: Fredrik Gertten and Magnus Gertten
Producers: Margarete Jangård (WG Film), Lennart Ström (AutoImages)
Co-Producers: Janneke Doolaard, Hanneke Niens, Hans De Wolf (KeyDocs), Simone Catania (Indyca)
Editor: Jesper Osmund
With support from: The Swedish Film Institute and the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union
FESTIVALS
In selection: World Premiere IDFA 2015, Doc Point Tallinn 2016, Doc Point Helsinki 2016, Göteborg IFF 2016, Nordic Filmfestival 2016, BAFICI 2016, DOK.Fest Munchen 2016, BelDocs 2016, Docs Against Gravity 2016, Transylvania IFF 2016, DocuTIFF 2016, Tromso Barnfilmfestival 2016, Fussball St. Gallen 2016, Edinburgh IFF 2016