Mighty Penguins is a 2023 sports documentary film about an amateur football team Brentford Penguins, consisting of players with Down's Syndrome, established by former Tottenham Hotspur player Allan Cockram in London, in 2017. The film premiered at the Tribeca Festival in 2023.
| Mighty Penguins | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Louis Myles Ahmed Twaij |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Steve Middleditch Will Billany |
| Edited by | Steve Williams |
Production companies |
|
Release date |
|
Running time | 33 minutes[1] |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Cast
edit- Allan Cockram
- Special K
- Peanut
- Captain Charlie
Production
editThe film is part of a wider series called Sports Explains the World, executive produced by John Skipper for Meadowlark Media.[2][3]
Allan Cockram, who founded the Brentford Penguins in 2017, told TalkSport that he received a phone call from producer/director Louis Myles which he thought “was a wind-up at first” about making a documentary about the club and the players.[4] It was co-produced and co-directed by Ahmed Twaij, and produced by All a Dream Productions and Firelight Media.[5]
Release
editThe film had its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2023.[6]
Reception
editDonald McRae in The Guardian described the film as directed “with a light touch” by Louis Myles and Ahmed Twaij. At a BFI Southbank screening Mark Kermode described the film as “utterly remarkable and utterly life-affirming”.[7]
Following the release of the film, former footballer David Beckham, and his son Romeo, met the Mighty Penguins team in September 2023, and presented Cockram with an Who Cares Wins Unsung Hero Award from The Sun newspaper.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Mighty Penguins". Tribeca Film. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
- ^ Weprin, Alex (October 11, 2022). "Meadowlark Media to Take Big Swing On Doc, Podcast Series 'Sports Explains the World' (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ^ "BRENTFORD PENGUINS DOCUMENTARY TO PREMIERE AT TRIBECA FESTIVAL". Brentfordfc.com. June 9, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ^ O'Brien, Sean (August 25, 2023). "I played for Tottenham then became fireman but biggest achievement is now in critically-acclaimed film". TalkSport. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ^ Twaij, Ahmed (June 9, 2023). "'Mighty Penguins' documentary tells story of football team with challenges of Down syndrome". Arab News. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ^ "Mighty Penguins". Tribecafilm.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ^ McRae, Donald (November 28, 2023). "Kids with Down's have no filter. I love it': Allan Cockram, the man behind the Mighty Penguins". The Guardian. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
- ^ Nash, George (December 13, 2023). "Brentford football club for players with Down's syndrome the subject of new documentary". swlondoner. Retrieved December 28, 2023.