The creators of the feature film “CHAMPIONS” have today announced its forthcoming September 2021 release across the GCC.

The 90’ minute uplifting comedy, produced by Oscar-winning producer Andrés Vicente Gómez and directed by Manuel Calvo, tells the story of Khaled, the assistant coach of a top Saudi Arabian football team. One day, after a stressful match, his frustration and bad attitude lands him in disciplinary court. He loses his job and is sentenced to the worst possible punishment for his ego: coaching a group of players with intellectual disabilities. Through their innocence, tenderness and plenty of good humour, they will teach Khaled the things that really matter in life.

Starring Yassir Al Saggaf, the famous host of The Voice (MBC) talent show alongside Fatima Al Banawi of Barakah Meets Barakah, the film is co-starred by Jeddah-based people with intellectual disabilities, many of them recruited from the Help Center with the aid of its director, Maha Al Juffali. A crew of 90 film professionals from Saudi Arabia and Spain filmed in various locations across the city of Jeddah.

“CHAMPIONS” is a remake of Spanish top-grossing film “Campeones” adapted to the Arab market by Saudi scriptwriters Maram Taibah and Wael Al Saeed. The film-makers were inspired to make this film in Saudi Arabia not only due to the commercial success and the social awareness that was raised of people with special needs in Spain but also by the true story of the Intellectual Impairment Saudi Football team, which managed to be Champions – four times in a row- of the International Intellectual Impairment tournament.