The talented Hamoudi (11) lives for football and dreams of one day becoming as good as his football hero Lionel Messi. After Hamoudi gets involved in a horrific suicide bombing, he wakes up badly injured in a hospital. And while his parents do all they can to keep their family safe, Hamoudi doesn’t give up to make his dream come true after all.

Baghdad Messi is a story deeply rooted in Iraqi culture, brought to life by Iraqi actors in an Iraqi setting, directed by a talented Iraqi-Belgian director. The film's origins trace back to a short film that nearly clinched an Oscar nomination a decade ago, winning over a hundred awards worldwide. Building on this success, A Team Productions saw the potential to expand it into a full-length feature that captures the essence and spirit of Iraq.

Kobe: “The selection of Baghdad Messi as Iraq's entry is a beautiful achievement. Although it's important to note that being an entry is different from being a nomination, the recognition itself is significant. Each country can submit one film for consideration, and being chosen is a commendable feat. It's great when our projects win awards or draw immense crowds, but for us that's not what matters most. Of course you want your film to do well, but the greatest satisfaction comes from the audience you reach and their reaction to the story. Not from the awards you receive for it.”

So what does it actually take to realise the film of your dreams? A Team Productions operates at the intersection of creativity and commercial viability, acting as the vital link between the imaginative world and market demands. From the inception of an idea to the final cut, they manage the entire production process; including internal development, collaboration with writers and directors, securing financing, or managing production logistics.

Want to have a taste of the A Team Productions universe? Click here to watch their show reel.

The typical production process of a film takes about 6 years. In most cases it are the scriptwriters, directors, or channels who turn to a certain production house because they like their style. As has oftentimes been the case for A Team Production, whose reputation of delivering projects out of the ordinary has resulted in many creatives wishing them to be the producing party.

Kobe: “We are well known for our productions that exceed expectations and are a bit ‘off’. We produced Torpedo, for instance; a film about a submarine which at the time nobody thought possible in Belgium. Or look at the Trizombie; the latest film we made. A zombie survival movie where all of the protagonists were played by people with down syndrome. We love films like that!”

Yves: “At the beginning of your production process, you start off with a relatively small team to work with. But in the leadup to the shooting phase, your team grows exponentially larger. Which means that during the shooting phase, time is money. You have to be profoundly prepared and need to make sure that as little as possible goes wrong. And when something inevitably does go wrong, you need to fix it asap in order not to lose precious time and to prevent inconsistencies in your final product.”

Kobe: “During the filming of one our action scenes in Patsers for which we closed off the Leien in Antwerp, we experienced an accident on set. Luckily, no one got hurt – but we will have to retake that scene and close off the Leien once again. Not the situation you wish for, but you roll with it.”

Their work on Patsers – their latest project coming out in February 2025 and the sequel to the successful Patser from 2018 – exemplifies their commitment to innovation. Working closely with directors Adil and Billal, A Team Productions ensures every aspect of the production aligns with the directors' vision while meeting financial objectives. This involves creative compromises and strategic budgeting, balancing the desires of creative minds with the practicalities of production.

Kobe: “During our production process, Adil and Billal were specifically clear on one thing: action-action-action! Resulting in us scheduling fewer shooting days for dialogue to free up budget for action scenes never seen before on this scale.”

Yves: “Next to that, you also have to take into account the opinion of the financiers, because streaming channels like Amazon or distributors also have their say in the desired result. These parties are incredibly valuable, since without them the film would never leave the concept phase.”

Kobe: “Another way of bringing in money is tax sheltering; where companies with considerable profits can invest in fiction projects to both earn interest on their investment and receive a tax break. And they also get to enjoy other amazing bonuses, such as being invited to the premiere, visiting the set, etc. A Team Productions works exclusively with Casa Kafka Pictures for their Tax shelter needs.”

Looking forward, A Team Productions is gearing up for the release of Patsers in February 2025. Building on the success of Patser, this sequel has raised the scale of the production, promising a thrilling experience for audiences. While the first film of this series revolved around cartoon-like characters living life like a videogame all the while hoping to get rich by dealing drugs, Patsers really is built around more in-depth characters. But the film will undeniably remain a Patser sequel; larger than life, up tempo, fun, packed with great music and famous actors. Just bigger, better, and with more action and excitement.

Kobe: “Everyone who liked Patser is going to love Patsers even more. And everyone who wasn't convinced the first time around will most definitely get the kick out of the full-blown action film it has now grown into.”

Promotions are already underway, with teasers on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, building anticipation for the grand premiere.

Kobe: “For the premiere of Patser, we rented out the entire Kinepolis theatre in Antwerp. Attendants were instructed to be dressed in Patser style not to be denied entry; and we really did hire people who sold accessories to everyone not respecting the dress code. The profits from that action were later donated to Music For Life, making for a beautiful gesture through which we could give back to society.”

Yves: “But of course – this premiere is going to be even bigger. Mark your calendars for 19^th February 2025!”

As we will!