Co-presented by the Independent Film Festival Boston.
TRANSFORMING THE BEAUTIFUL GAME: THE CLYDE BEST STORY
Preceded by:
THE BILL PATTERSON STORY
Followed by:
Post-film panel discussion with the filmmakers including Anthony Severo and Barry Gardin (BILL PATTERSON) Clyde Best, Ade Coker and Dan Egan (CLYDE BEST), and Roxbury native, Tony D. Head.
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Directed by Anthony Severo. (USA, 2026, 15:57 mins)
This is the untold story of Bill Patterson, who dedicated seven decades to public service in Oakland and along the way mentored some of the greatest people who ever lived—Curt Flood, Bill Russell, Joe Morgan—champions who changed the world, even as forces worked to destroy the Black community he served.
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Directed by Dan Egan (USA, 2026, 99:00 mins)
In 1969, Bermudian teenager Clyde Best broke into England’s First Division Football (Soccer) and became the first Black superstar of football/soccer’s modern television era. Enduring racism while inspiring millions, Best emerged as the Jackie Robinson of English football, breaking barriers through his on-field excellence and quiet resilience. Overcoming adversity, inspiring a generation of young Black athletes, and later starring in the North American Soccer League, his influence still echoes across the global game. Featuring Clyde Best himself alongside notable interviewees such as Sir Geoff Hurst, Ian Wright, John Barnes, and Viv Anderson, "Transforming the Beautiful Game" is the first feature documentary to tell Best’s full story, an untold chapter of Black sporting history and a powerful testament to quiet revolution and lasting legacy. The film combines never-before-seen archival footage, historic match material, and intimate interviews to restore Clyde Best to his rightful place in football history.