Shooting for Socrates movie gets UK premiere in Belfast with World Cup

Belfast Film Festival went football crazy last night as Northern Ireland’s soccer heroes got their gladrags on for the UK premiere of Shooting for Socrates.

The David and Goliath story is set in Belfast against the backdrop of the 1986 World Cup, when tiny Northern Ireland took on the might of Brazil.

A galaxy of Northern Ireland soccer stars graced the red carpet at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall, including former goalkeeper Pat Jennings, Norman Whiteside, Sammy McIlroy, Jimmy Nicholl, David Campbell and Gerry Armstrong.

And there was a very special guest at the black tie premiere – one never before seen in Ireland – the World Cup itself, on special loan from Fifa, football’s world governing body.

The visit of the World Cup to Belfast was made possible thanks to a campaign by former Northern Ireland international David Campbell, whose astonishing soccer journey to make his international debut against Brazil powers the film’s narrative.

Fifa representative Jim Boyce said the request for the World Cup to come to the premiere was originally turned down, but a special appeal from him to Fifa chief Sepp Blatter did the trick.

He said: “This film portrays the way sport has brought people together in Northern Ireland.

Belfast Film Festival Director Michele Devlin said she had been thrilled at the success of this year’s festival.