Spartans

Documentary by Nicolas Wadimoff

80 minutes – 2014
Switzerland – France

Original Title

Spartiates

Synopsis

Yvan Sorel runs a MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) club in Marseille’s “Quartier nord”, a district of the city mainly known in the media for its drug trafficking, gang shootings and kalashnikovs. Day after day, all on his own, with no support from the state, which gave up on this area a long time ago, he fights to keep the children and teenagers on the right path. A film about violence, education, moral values, faith and dignity.

Production

Co-production with:
Jean Golinelli (Switzerland)
RTS Radio Télévision Suisse
Alegria Productions (France)
France Télévisions
in association with:
HEAD, Département Cinéma (Switzerland)

Festivals & Awards (selection)

17. RIDM, Rencontres internationales du documentaire Montréal, 2014

50. Solothurner Filmtage, 2015
– Prix de Soleure –

18. Docs Barcelona, International Documentary Film Festival, Competition, 2015

37. Cinemed, Festival international du cinéma méditerranéen de Montpellier, Competition, 2015

21. Visions du Réel, Festival international de cinéma Nyon, 2015

17. BAFICI, Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente, Competition, 2015

4. Amdocs, American Documentary Film Festival, Palm Springs CA, 2015
– John Drew Verite Award –

14. FIFDH, Festival International du film sur les droits humains, Genève, 2016
-Prix du Jury du Centre de Detention de la Clairière-

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IMDB

Video on demand

Sales & distribution

World Sales: Doc & Film International

Distribution Switzerland: Filmcoopi Zürich A

Trailer:

« I spent weeks filming in Marseille’s Quartier nord, a district of the city mainly known in the media for its drug trafficking, gang shootings and kalashnikovs. There, I met an amazing person, named Yvan Sorel. He runs a MMA (Mixed martial Arts) club in the middle of this neighbourhood. Day after day, all on his own, with no support from the state, which gave up on this area a long time ago, he fights to keep the children and teenagers on the right path. It’s a film about violence, education, moral values, faith and dignity. »

Nicolas Wadimoff

Stills

Credits

Directed by: Nicolas Wadimoff
Scenario: Jean Golinelli & Nicolas Wadimoff
Production: Jean Golinelli & Nicolas Wadimoff (Akka Films)
Co-production: Christine Camdessus & Serge Gordey (Alegria Productions), Irène Challand & Gaspard Lamunière (RTS), Fabrice Puchault (France Télévision)
Cinematography: Joseph Areddy
Editing: Jean-Daniel Schneider
Location Sound Mix: Carlos Ibañez-Diaz
Sound Editing: Carlos Ibañez-Diaz
Sound Mix: Niels Barletta

Press

« This is one of the best verite films I have seen in years and will break down the barriers between documentary and narrative works. »
Teddy Grouya, Festival Director, AMDOCS Film festival

« Une caméra à hauteur d’hommes, à hauteur d’âmes… Une dramaturgie subtile et intense. »
Jury du Prix de Soleure

CINEUROPA
INTERVIEW: VOIR MONTREAL
LE DEVOIR.COM
TRIBUNE DE GENEVE

Education: le retour du bâton ?
Débat en direct dans l’émission Infrarouge de la RTS, avec Yvan Sorel et Nicolas Wadimoff. RTS, 11 NOVEMBRE 2015 ▷

Awards

14. FIFDH, Festival International du film sur les droits humains, Genève, 2016
– Prix du Jury du Centre de Detention de la Clairière –
4. Amdocs, American Documentary Film Festival, Palm Springs CA, 2015
– John Drew Verite Award –
Haarlem GX, Plein Les Yeux – Frans Film Festival, 2015
– Prix du meilleur film francophone –
6. MakeDox, Skopje, 2015
– Special Mention of the Jury –
50. Solothurner Filmtage, 2015
– Prix de Soleure –

Festivals

14. FIFDH, Festival International du film sur les droits humains, Genève, Competition, 2016
16. Tbilisi International Film Festival, 2015
32. Französische Filmtage Tübingen, 2015
37. Cinemed, Festival international du cinéma méditerranéen de Montpellier, Competition, 2015
14. Dokufest, International Documentary and Short Film Festival Prizren, 2015
6. MakeDox Creative Documentary Film Festival Skopje, Competition, 2015
Haarlem GX, 1er PLEIN LES YEUX – Frans Film Festival, Competition, 2015
18. Docs Barcelona, International Documentary Film Festival, Competition, 2015
7. Festival international du documentaire à Agadir, 2015
21. Visions du Réel, Festival international de cinéma Nyon, 2015
17. BAFICI, Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente, Competition, 2015
17. Wisconsin Film Festival, Madison, 2015
4. AMDOCS, American Documentary Film Festival, Palm Springs CA, Competition, 2015
50. Solothurner Filmtage, Competition, 2015
17. RIDM, Rencontres internationales du documentaire Montréal, 2014