After fleeing Syria with her Kurdish family, 11-year-old Mona ends up in Wedding, Berlin, attending a school where chaos reigns. The pupils are frustrated with the teachers, feeling that they are not taken seriously. The teachers, on the other hand, are annoyed by the students’ dawdling and disappointed by their performance. Except for Mr Che. The passionate teacher and coach of the girls’ football team can clearly see Mona’s talent, which developed on the streets of war-ridden Kurdistan. She is considered an outsider, and the team is anything but harmonious. But once the Berlin schools’ tournament comes round, they realize that if they want to win, they have to stick together.

Director Soleen Yusef dedicates her feature film Sieger sein [Be a champion] to the Wedding neighbourhood where she grew up. Using autobiographical elements, she has created a fast-paced film that’s uplifting, moving, and provocative. Representing all young Berliners who start with nothing and have to fight their way through life to get ahead, the film is a statement filled with music, slang, and, of course, football. As the winner of the Best Children’s Film at the 2024 German Film Awards can be enjoyed by all ages.


This screening takes place in the frame of Take the Knee​​​​​​​.