The UK premiere of Asif Kapadia’s Diego Maradona will open the 2019 edition of Sheffield Doc/Fest, at Sheffield’s City Hall on June 6.
The film will screen at the festival after its world premiere in Cannes, where it has been selected for an Out of Competition slot.
As previously announced, Altitude is releasing the title in the UK on June 14.
Diego Maradona looks at the wild life of the iconic footballer, both on and off the pitch, during his time at SSC Napoli in Naples.
Kapadia, who will give a Q&A on the opening night, last appeared at Doc/Fest with Senna in 2011, and has since won the Oscar for best documentary for Amy in 2016.
He said, “Those with long (football related) memories will recall that Diego almost signed for Sheffield United in the late 70s. The deal fell through (over money), so on June 6, 2019, Diego Maradona will finally make his long-awaited debut in Sheffield! Game on!”
Doc/Fest said Maradona himself was “unlikely” to attend the event, “unless Sheffield United decide after all this time to sign him!”
The festival has previously announced Paul Greengrass will attend for an ‘In conversation’ event with presenter and journalist Danny Leigh.
The full programme will be revealed on May 9, with the festival taking place from June 6-11
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