The Director:
Joanna Stavropoulou
Joanna has been a writer, journalist, radio presenter and photographer for many years. Born to a multi-cultural marriage (American mother, Greek father), she is always interested in social issues in different contexts and countries. She has travelled widely, living and working in Greece , Spain , Colombia , Argentina , Sri Lanka , Ethiopia and Zimbabwe amongst others. She has been a national athlete on the Greek Modern Pentathlon Team and worked for the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games as a Coordinator.
In the last two years she has been living in Zimbabwe , working for MSF as their Field Communications Officer. At the end of her term there, she came across a story that she felt had to be told. Her first time as a film director, she launched into making The Positive Ladies Soccer Club because the ladies featured in the film inspired her so much with their strength and heroism.
20 Comments
hi Joanna,
I have just watched your film on my flight home from Hong Kong to New Zealand and I was so moved by it.I would like to get my soccer team together to do some fundraising directly for this team or soccer club,can we do this for them? I have been playing soccer for many years at a senior womens level and have contacts that could help with soccer supplies etc..would this be helpful?
Heather
I’m wondering if there’s any way to donate directly to these women. I know how great MSF is and regularly donate to them already but would like to know if it’s possible to contribute directly to the soccer club. Do you have any info on whether that’s an option and, if so, how it might be accomplished?
Hi Alisa,
Thanks for writing in and thank you for already supporting the work of MSF. Let me inquire about direct donations to the soccer club and I will let you know.
Thank you again for your interest,
Joanna
Dear Joanna,
I am from Zimbabwe but am working as a doctor in London at the moment. I am involved with quite a few health related charities and would be interested in screening your film at a fundraiser we are doing on Women’s day. Do you think that you would be willing to grant us permission to show the film (and the DVD)?
I was sent your email by Karoline, a friend of LUz in Barcelona.
I hope to hear from you soon,
Kirsten
Joanna,
Is the full film posted on youtube or any other social medium like that for viewing? I would love to provide a link on my website to spread the message. I would also like to know if obtaining a copy of the film is possible. I would be curious to see if a local football bar I attend would be interested in screening the film.
All the Best,
Gbenga
I am teaching in a greek highschool. would it be possible to show it in the class? thank you
Hi Athina,
Thank you for your interest in showing the movie in a Greek classroom — I especially think it is so important to open up young people’s thinking and perspectives! I have passed on your email to the MSF Athens Communications department who will be contacting you to see how things can be organized.
Do please let me know how things go!
Joanna
Thanks for the telling of this story. Even through the trailer, I felt the uplifting and positive nature of this film. I would love to obtain a copy of this DVD as well as I would love to screen this at our shoppe in the Bushwick area of Brooklyn. Thanks and best of luck.
Hello Joanna,
I am a writer and soccer player who recently travelled to South Africa to do volunteer work with several groups and organizations. I am particularly interested in sports-based initiatives for personal and community development, and I was lucky enough to spend some time with a couple of soccer teams while I was there.
A friend recently sent me the CNN article about your film and I posted about it on my blog http://www.personalSA.wordpress.com (the post in question is titled “Through soccer all things are possible…”). Almost immediately, I received feedback in my comments section from local (Toronto) soccer players who would like to see a screening, but I see that there are no Canadian dates in your screening schedule. I am certain that there is an audience for this piece here. Is there any way to purchase or borrow a copy of the film?
Many thanks, Keph.
Hi Keph,
Thanks so much for writting in and I’m sorry it has taken me so long to reply.
First of all, how wonderful the volunteer work you are doing! It is heart-warming to see how people around the world are so generous with their time and spirit.
Thank you for posting the article on your blog and how great that you got responses. I am hoping that the movie will be shown in Canada in various places and will be sending you shortly the contact info of the person in MSF Canada that you need to contact. It would be fantastic if a showing could be organized with local soccer players in Toronto.
All the best,
Joanna
hi joanna, thank you for your great achivement. I am somashekar from india. I go through your story of positive foot ball club. In pakistan there is positive cricket team. In our city (Bangalore) one residential school for positive children. they r getting free education, this is India’s first residential school for positivs. I am a sports editor in regional laguage kannada (karnataka’s state laguage). I will write a story on you and your foot ball club,
tanking you
somasekar
Hello Dear Somasekar,
Thank you so much for the interest in the movie. I’m sorry it has taken me so long to reply. I don’t know if you have already done so or not, but it would be wonderful if you would write a story about the MSF movie. I was also thinking that it would be great if we could show the movie to both the cricket team and the residential school for Positive children. Please let me know if this would be possible. If you need any more information about the movie or would like to ask me some questions directly please let me know.
Joanna
Hi Joanna,
I’m a student at MIT learning about the impact of AIDS in our world today. We did a segment on women’s rights a couple of weeks ago, and we are interested in obtaining a copy of this DVD, if it is at all possible.
Thank you!
Hi Juhee,
Thank you for your interest and this movie is all about women and their rights!
I will write to you directly with contact info about who you need to write to in the MSF USA office to obtain a copy of the film.
Thanks for your interest and for writting in,
Joanna
Hi Joanna,
I would be very interested in seeing a DVD of the film as possible inclusion for the second annual Kicking & Screening Soccer Film Festival in NYC (June 1-5, 2010). Our first festival in July 2009 raised funds for Grassroot Soccer, which uses soccer to help in AIDS/ HIV awareness and prevention in Africa.
Please email me at rachel@kickingandscreening.com and I can provide details as to where to send a DVD and discuss the festival in more detail.
Thank you.
Rachel
Thank you Rachel for writting in! I think it would be wonderful to include the movie in your Film Festival. I will write to you directly with the person you need to contact in the MSF USA office.
Thank you again,
Joanna
We have produced an HIV awareness football coaching manual which you may be interested in, if you would like to know more about it, or would like me to send you copies please contact me on the email address above. kind regards, Claire
Hello Joanna
We are trying to obtain a dvd screener of your film. The next edition of our PanAfrican Film festival will be held from 15 to 25 april 2010 in Montreal.
Many thanks
Damien CHALAUD
Festival Programmer
Hi Damien,
Thank you so much for writing in.
Can you please send me address details to send in DVD and how is the best way to apply to your festival? We of course would be very interested in participating!
Joanna
Hi Claire — thanks for writing in and I would be very much interested in receiving the manual. I will contact you directly.’Joanna