In the middle of the Negev Desert...lies the Israeli city, Be’er Sheva. Home to the football club HaPoel Be’er Sheva, the city has equal number of Muslim and Jewish residents and sits only 20 km south of the West Bank.

HaPoel Be’er Sheva was plagued by a 40-year championship
drought until a new owner, Alona Barkat, came in with a vision
of tolerance and acceptance. With this vision, Alona, the first
woman owner of an Israeli soccer team, brought the club their
long-awaited championship.

PLAYING FOR PEACE follows the journey of the team as they
prepare for the UEFA Champions League match against
Besiktas Turkey, having advanced further than any other Israeli
team in history. The film enters the lives of two star players --
one Muslim, one Jewish -- as their team, fans, and the whole
city prepare for this monumental match. More than just football,
PLAYING FOR PEACE is a story of creating a team of
champions with a culture of tolerance and acceptance. This
team and fan base leave people questioning: if peace is
possible on the pitch and in the stands, where else can it be
possible?

Produced and Directed by award-winning filmmaker Arielle
Thomas Sabol, PLAYING FOR PEACE debuted at the
International Peace & Film Festival where it was awarded the
highest prize of the festival.