“FOOTBALL FABLES” Trailer from Football Fables by Baff A on Vimeo.

How do young Africans come to the attention of Real Madrid or Manchester United? More often that not it’s through football academies from Accra to Abijan from where shady agents pack off young stars to Europe. “Football Fables”, winner of Golden Knight Awards for best feature screenplay and best foreign feature, lifts the lid on the inner workings of Ghanaian football migration. The documentary unfolds through the eyes of Francis, a talented teenager on the brink of a dream transfer. His talent is undoubted, his desire immeasurable, but will that be enough to secure his future? Francis’ journey sheds light on the middle men who earn a living making sure their cream rises to the top. A system which (although far from perfect and in spite of itself) produces some of the best players in the world.

The DVD is out from 28 March 2011 through www.footballfables.co.uk. but you can also attend a screening of the film on Sunday 27 March at Brixton’s Ritzy cinema in South London followed by a Q&A session with director Baff Akoto. You can book tickets here.