Line Hatland

Line Hatland has worked as a director of documentaries, a writer and a developer since 2000. She has directed creative documentary films, video art and tv-documentaries. She has a human touch and a vivid sense of humour. She holds a BA from the University of Oslo, a year specialising in documentary films at Volda College and a Master in Visual Anthropology from University of Manchester. KIDS CUP is her first feature length documentary.

Director’s statement
“The idea started when my 12year old daughter was participating in the Norway Cup. For the first time she was to play against a team from abroad. I feared she would lose. The other team was very energetic and with a strong will to win. Unfortunately, they had not practiced so much. They got very upset when they lost. The girls came from an orphanage in the Gaza strip and it was the first time they were abroad. They had lost every match. I started looking around, wondering where the other kids were from? What did they hope would happen? The unique thing about the tournament is that the competition is open for everyone. Kids from Gaza play next to upper class boys from London. The Norway Cup is reminiscent of a peace conference at the UN building. Nations unite in the hot dog queue; after the matches; and before bedtime.”