Transforming the Beautiful Game: The Clyde Best Story was named audience favourite at the 2026 Roxbury International Film Festival, adding a significant new honour to the documentary’s growing international festival and screening run.

Unlike an industry or jury award, the accolade reflects the response of the people who experienced the film during the festival in New England.

“The audience has spoken,” the RoxFilm team wrote in announcing the award, noting that the story of Clyde Best and Ade Coker was one of hope and resilience that resonated strongly with festival audiences.

Best’s documentary was selected as RoxFilm’s opening night film, giving the football legend’s story a prominent position at the beginning of the festival. Festival organisers said the film “set the stage for the rest of the festival” and described opening night as a particularly special evening.

Dan Egan, the producer and director, indicated that the award holds deep meaning for the film-makers.

“This award means a great deal to us because it came directly from the audience,” Egan said.

“We have always believed Clyde’s story reaches far beyond football. It is about courage, excellence, resilience and what one person can accomplish while confronting extraordinary barriers.

“To have that story recognised by the audience at a festival with RoxFilm’s history, mission and reputation is incredibly meaningful.”

As Transforming the Beautiful Game prepares for another major festival appearance, it does so with the prestigious RoxFilm honour already in hand.

Best’s life story has been nominated for best international film at the 2026 BronzeLens Awards and will screen at the BronzeLens Film Festival in Atlanta on August 27.

The Atlanta screening represents another significant stop for the documentary and its mission to restore the production to its rightful place in international football and Black sporting history.

Egan believes that the two festival honours provide two distinct measures of the documentary’s growing impact, recognising the film within an international competitive category.

“To go from winning the audience favourite award at RoxFilm to being nominated for best international film at BronzeLens is incredibly gratifying,” he said.

“These are festivals that champion important stories and create opportunities for voices and histories that have too often been overlooked. Clyde Best’s story belongs on that stage.”

Following BronzeLens, the film continues its North American tour with three consecutive festival appearances in September. It will be screened at the Mystic Film Festival on September 25, Port Townsend Film Festival a day later and Footcandle Film Festival on September 27.

A Bermuda encore tour is scheduled to run from October 5 to 10, allowing locals who missed the first screening in April a chance to watch the film.

“Following the extraordinary reception the documentary received in Bermuda earlier this year, Transforming the Beautiful Game returns to Clyde Best’s homeland from October 5 to 10 for the Clyde Best Story — Encore Bermuda Tour,” Egan said.

“The special series of community and educational screenings will continue the celebration of one of Bermuda’s greatest sporting pioneers, while expanding the documentary’s impact beyond traditional theatrical exhibition.

“The Encore Tour will also connect with the growing Clyde Best Educational Initiative and the More Than a Game exhibition, extending the story into education, history, art and community engagement.”

From Bermuda, the documentary will head to Bridgton, Maine, at the beginning of December.

“The 2026 tour continues on December 3 with a special screening and educational programme at Bridgton Academy in Maine,” Egan added.

“It will bring Clyde Best’s story and its themes of resilience, leadership, excellence and overcoming adversity to a new generation of students.”