2010 Sundance Documentary Film Grant Winner
Expected Release 2012 Produced by Daniel M. Kalai. Kalai is currently the managing member and principal creative at Personify Productions, LLC. © 2009-2011 Philly Soccer Doc, LLC. Documentary trailer used with permission under license for promotional purposes only.
About the film
“Kiarah Cannady, 16, describes her team’s soccer field as a patch of dirt with drug dealers nearby and litter-strewn streets. It’s a far cry from the grassy fields most organized soccer teams play on, but it’s home field for the Anderson Monarchs Girls Soccer Club.”—DentonRC.com
The Anderson Monarchs is a documentary about an all-girls soccer team competing, living, and thriving in an at-risk urban neighborhood in Philadelphia. Named after the team highlighted in the documentary, the Anderson Monarchs are underdogs fighting a battle to change their lives, the ultimate David against Goliath story. Along the way we will share with you stories about our progress atwww.theandersonmonarchs.com.
About the Story:
Named after Marian Anderson and Jackie Robinson’s Negro League baseball team, they are the only all girls, nationally competitive African-American soccer club in the US. Their recent accomplishments include nomination as the 2008 Sports Team of the Year by Sports Illustrated and the placement of five team members in the Olympic Development Program for US Women’s national soccer. In 2010, the girls under-twelve team placed 9th in the world at the Kick It 3v3 team World Championship Tournament at Disney World. The girls don’t just play power soccer under very harsh conditions in inner city Philadelphia; they are setting standards in academics, leadership, and community. The girls range in age from 6 to 16. Their stories and the story of their Coach, Walt Stewart, are inspirational. The Anderson Monarchs are underdogs fighting a battle to change the trajectory of their lives.