ESPOIRS tells the story of young girls and boys from marginalized communities who, through sports, find not only a path to personal success but also an opportunity to overcome the social and economic challenges they face. Through intimate portraits, the documentary shows how sports become a tool for peace education, equal opportunity, and youth empowerment.
This documentary is fully aligned with the advocacy goals of Peace and Sport, particularly in promoting peace education, inclusion, and the empowerment of young girls through sports. The journeys of Ranya, a Moroccan surfer; Kailash, a young Indian breakdancer; and Chrispine, a Kenyan athlete, perfectly illustrate this.
ESPOIRS highlights sports as a lever to transform lives and communities—a central principle for Peace and Sport.
Nicolas Jambou and Jean Verdon, the directors of the documentary alongside Sacha Chelli, stated, “We are very honored to receive this prestigious award. With ESPOIRS, we wanted to show the power of sports to transform lives, especially for young people living in challenging situations. For these youth, sports and competitions serve as a lifeline and give them the strength to stand tall. This film is a tribute to their courage, determination, and their ability to overcome obstacles to keep practicing sports.”
Florent Pietrus, Champion for Peace and member of the Sportel Awards Jury, added:
“As a Champion for Peace, I am deeply moved by the message of the documentary Espoirs. This film reveals the journeys of young people who find in sports not only a voice but also a path to a more promising future. Espoirs is an inspiration to all of us, pushing us to increase our efforts to build peaceful communities through sports.”
Since 2015, the Peace and Sport Documentary Award has celebrated the work of committed filmmakers who showcase sports as a tool for building a culture of peace. By transforming concrete actions and life journeys into inspiring stories that touch hearts and mobilize minds, these documentaries encourage others to follow this transformative example.
