The Home Game

2023 • 79’ • Iceland

Twenty-five years ago, in a small fishing village in Iceland (population: 369), one man built a football pitch at the foot of a volcano, dreaming of a home game in the FA cup. The team was dealt an away fixture and lost 10-0. Nobody ever set foot on the home pitch. Twenty-five years later, a boy resurrects his father dream — to play a home game in the cup and lose by less than ten goals.

Director:
Smari Gunn & Logi Sigursveinsson

Producers:
Stephanie Thorpe, Heather Millard,
Elfar Adalsteins, Freyja Kristinsdottir

  • Audience Award
    — Nordisk Panorama 2023

    Main Award
    — Budapest International Documentary Festival 2024

    Audience Award
    — Glasgow Film Festival 2024

    Audience Award
    — Sydney Film Festival 2024

    DOCNYC 2023
    Tromso Int'l Film Festival 2024
    Kicking and Screening Soccer Film Festival 2024
    Phoenix Film Festival 2024
    Minneapolis St Paul International Film Festival 2024
    Touring Festival on Football 2024
    Gŵyl Wal Goch Festival 2024
    Galway Film Fleadh 2024
    DMZ International Documentary Film Festival 2024
    Arctic Film Festival 2024

Filmmaker’s Biography

Smari Gunn is an Icelandic writer and director, a self-proclaimed football specialist — who loves the game as well as finding the sense of humour in every good story. After receiving a BA training in European Theatre Arts, Smari began creating his own work and further honed his writing skills in the UK through initiatives at the NFTS and BFI Network.

Logi Sigursveinsson studied screenwriting and directing at the Icelandic Film School. In 2018, his graduation film Bjarnarblús won Best Film at Northern Wave Film Festival in Iceland. Logi works freelance as a cinematographer, editor, and VFX artist.