Eye For Film >> Festivals >> Doc/Fest >> 2008 >> Sports Docs

The biggest and most contravesial docs of the year have been unabashed sports docs uniting sports fans and lamens alike. The drama can’t be beaten and the characters are always bigger than life.

View other Sheffield DocFest Films by strand: Anti Docs, Arts Docs, Bent Docs, Green Docs, Kinky Docs, MeetMarket Pitched, Miscellaneous, Music Docs, Nick Broomfield Retrospective, Ogawa Retrospective, Regime Change, Scottish Docs, Student Docs, Toronto International Film Festival Focus, Youth Jury Doc

Standing Start and Ma Bar

Jesus Loves You (Country: Germany; Year: 2008; Director: Robert Cibis, Lilian Franck, Michaela Kirst, Matthias Luthardt), Official Site

Christian Fundamentalists journey to the 2006 World Cup to preach to the unconverted.

The John Akii Bua Story: An African Tragedy (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Daniel Gordon)

Biography of 1972 Munich Olympic champion.

Junior (Country: Canada; Year: 2007; Director: Isabelle Lavigne, Stephane Thibault), Official Site

Sports documentary about ice-hockey players and those who scheme on their excellence.

The King Of South Shields (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Tina Gharavi), Official Site

Muhammad Ali's cultural identity leads to an exploration of Arab and Muslim culture.

Ma Bar (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Adrian McDowall, Finlay Pretsell; Stars: Bill McFadyen)

What drives a 73-year-old powerlifting champion?

Full Review

Tyson and Thriller In Manila

Solo (Country: Australia; Year: 2008; Director: David Michod, Jen Peedom)

One man's attempt to make a solo kayak crossing from Tasmania to New Zealand.

Sprinters (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Sam Blair)

An exploration of top-level athletes.

Standing Start (Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Finlay Pretsell, Adrian McDowall; Writer: Des Dillon; Stars: Craig MacLean)

Documenting world champion Craig MacLean's preparation for a cycle race.

Full Review

Thriller In Manila (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: John Dower)

Joe Frazier tells his side of the story of his legendary fight against Muhammad Ali.

Tyson (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: James Toback; Writer: James Toback; Stars: Mike Tyson), Official Site

Intimate portrait of the heavyweight boxer.

Full Review See: Sundance Diary: Day Eight