Pantofola D’Oro / Venice Beach Football Club: Welcome to Venice

Few things in life draw the passion that football inspires from all walks of life, a theme that resonates through Ben Quinn’s new film for Venice Beach Football Club (VBFC), and made in partnership with legendary Italian bootmaker Pantofola D’Oro. The project was truly a family affair, co-directed by Ben and his fourteen year-old son Billy, who also plays for the club. In the short time since its founding, VBFC has established itself as a grassroots organisation formed by players, coaches, fans, artists, musicians, and proud Venice Beach locals whose mission is to build the game in their neighbourhood and create future local legends through their youth academy. During the height of the pandemic, VBFC was forced to shutter its operations like many other youth clubs. The loss of the ability to play deeply impacted Billy, and Ben captured Billy’s profound sense of isolation and deep desire to return to the pitch in a short film, Quarantine Football: A Film By Billy and Ben, that VBFC saw and promoted via their site in May 2020. The film opens on a note of nostalgia as an elder Italian gentleman welcomes the viewer to Venice, the City of Love. From firecrackers in the street and Dogtown skateboarders to lowriders and epic battles on the pitch, the film captures the unique spirit, energy, passion, and community that lace-up to compete at VBFC’s Estadio de Dogtown.