UNITED PASSIONS

United Passions

United Passions, otherwise known as the Fifa propaganda film, was financed by Fifa, which invested $22.2 million into the $26.1 million budget. Fifa originally put up $13 million, but after money ran out during filming, they increased their investment. United Passions premiered at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and buyers were not interested in this humiliating disaster. Director Frédéric Auburtin tried to distance himself from the project and was quoted: “Now I’m seen as bad as the guy who brought AIDS to Africa or the guy who caused the financial crisis. My name is all over this mess and apparently I am a propaganda guy making films for corrupt people.” Tim Roth refused to do any publicity and said: “Yeah, I apologize I didn’t question the director, I didn’t question the script. This is a role that will have my father turning in his grave.”

Screen Media Films acquired US rights for low six figures and United Passions saw a release in the US days after 14 Fifa officials were arrested on numerous corruption charges, making this misguided wreck even more radioactive. Definitely not helping its appeal was that critics eviscerated the film, which earned a rare 1/100 on metacritic. United Passions was booked into 10 theaters with a simultaneous VOD release. It grossed $607 from 10 theaters on its opening day and Saturday showings and US distributor Screen Media Films declined to report the Sunday takings. The final weekend numbers amounted to all of $918 and no numbers were reported after the weekend.

United Passions saw a release in a few handpicked countries where it pulled in $178,639 in sales and most of that terrible number is from Russia. The film still has no UK release date and it went straight to video in France and premiered on television in Italy.