Offside Istanbul

How African football talents end up stranded on the Bosporus

2015 · 52 min · Documentary

Every day, African footballers are washed ashore in the dazzling megacity of Istanbul. They arrive at the Bosporus, driven by their dream of a life as a star and attracted by false promises. The dream turns into tough reality. And the football career is far from sight. The filmmaker accompanied some of these football talents for over six months. A story not only of desolation, but also of strong personalities, their zest for life and unshakeable hope.

Directed by Jonas Schaffter · Written by Jonas Schaffter