The joy, despair and passion of the "Beautiful Game" will be captured in a stunning fly-on-the-wall film for 08 to be screened in Liverpool.
On the Edge of Passion receives its world premier in FACT on Monday (08 December) and looks at what football means to fans in three European cities – Liverpool, Marseilles and Istanbul.
Each port city is renowned for its unconditional love and dedication to their football teams – Liverpool, Everton, Olympique de Marseilles (OM), Galatasaray, Fenerbace and Besiktas – and the in-depth documentary reveals just why the fans are so passionate about their teams, what it means to be a supporter and how football transcends language barriers across the world.
Before the film premieres there will be a special panel made up of industry experts to debate issues such as the role of the fan in modern-day football, whether supporters are getting value for money and if the game has changed for better or worse over the years.
On the panel is former Liverpool player Ian St. John, Daily Mirror columnist Brian Reade, Turkish sports writer Alp Aulagay, Liverpool University lecturer Liz Crolley and John Williams who has written a number of books on football culture.
The new film is part of Capital of Culture's "Cities on the Edge" programme and has been made by French film company Comic Strip Productions.
Liverpool Culture Company's Ben Potter has been leading on the year-long project. He said: "This film really puts football supporters under the spotlight regardless of whether they’re Red or Blue, young or old, a permanent pitch-side fixture or an armchair fan.
"Our aim was to create a film which brought people together under one common goal and give the supporters themselves a chance to show what it's like to be a football fan in the 21st century.
"On the Edge of Passion is a powerful portrayal of people who aren't just fans, they are the incarnation of their clubs and this unique film gives us all an insight into their lives, their rituals, their thoughts and their history."
Pierre Lanfranchi, a football academic and co-director of an international FIFA course will also speak at the premiere on the subject of "The wonder of football in European Port Cities".
Tickets for the event are £7.50 and are available from the FACT box office on 08717 042 063.
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