Sunday, May 17 | Doors Open at 12:30 pm | Stand Together Theater
Join us for the exclusive DC premiere of “Summer of ’94," ahead of its national debut on Fox.
An official selection of the SXSW Film Festival, this new documentary captures the U.S. Men’s National Team’s improbable journey to the 1994 FIFA World Cup, and the history they were never meant to make. Through never-before-seen camcorder footage and new interviews with Alexi Lalas, Cobi Jones, John Harkes, Tony Meola, and coach Bora Milutinović, the film reveals how a group of underdogs with no league and no roadmap became legends, driven by a coach whose belief in them helped unlock their potential on and off the field.
JUST ADDED: After the film, stick around for a panel discussion with film director Dave LaMattina, former Washington Spirit player Joanna Lohman, and U.S. Soccer Foundation President and CEO Ed Foster-Simeon, moderated by Stand Together's Executive Vice President Derek Johnson. The panel will be followed by a meet-and-greet reception featuring our panel and DC United's mascot, Talon!
Free and open to the public, but space is limited! Perfect for youth sports players, coaches, and families. Presented in partnership with Imagine Entertainment, Stand Together, and the U.S. Soccer Foundation, alongside Yes, Coach!, an initiative to train and equip 100,000 coach-mentors.
Tickets to this event are SOLD OUT, but free same-day tickets may be available through a standby line. At 1 pm, standby guests will be offered any available seats. All guests are encouraged to attend the post-premiere meet-and-greet.
If you have your tickets, you should be seated by 1 pm. Seating is first come, first served. If the theater reaches capacity, you will be directed to an overflow viewing room. Early arrival is strongly recommended.
Ed Foster-Simeon A champion of soccer as a vehicle for youth development and social change, Ed Foster-Simeon was named President & CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation in 2008. Under his leadership, the Foundation has become a nationally recognized leader in sports-based youth development, with an emphasis on programs that improve the health and well-being of children in under-resourced communities. The Foundation has been recognized by numerous prestigious awards, including the Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy and the Football Is More Role Model Award. Prior to joining the Foundation, Foster-Simeon served as Deputy Managing Editor at USA Today, was Vice President of the Virginia Youth Soccer Association, and is a past president of Prince William Soccer, Inc. In 2011 he was awarded a Community Leadership Award from the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition; and in 2017 he was inducted into the Virginia-DC Soccer Hall of Fame. United Soccer Coaches, the world’s largest soccer coaches’ organization, selected him as a 2020 Honorary All-American. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Foster-Simeon holds a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Maryland University College, is a U.S. Navy Veteran, and a Trustee of the NAACP Foundation.
Joanna Lohman Joanna Lohman has been rocking stages and fields all over the globe for two decades. She is a former professional soccer player and member of the United States Women’s National Team. Over her 16-year career, she has built a platform for social impact, and she became the first player in Washington Spirit history to have her jersey retired. She is a human rights activist, teacher, and serves as a Sport Diplomat, traveling the world and running programs that promote gender equality, conflict resolution, cultural understanding, and economic development in less developed nations. Through her own personal journey, she has helped individuals and groups define their beauty by living an unabashedly authentic life based around deep-rooted acceptance and discovering a comfort in their own skin.
Derek Johnson Derek Johnson is responsible for the strategy and grant making at Stand Together, a philanthropic community that helps America’s boldest changemakers tackle our country’s biggest problems, from education to the economy, broken communities, and toxic division, among dozens of other pressing issues. Stand Together’s comprehensive approach includes partnerships with thousands of nonprofit leaders and university scholars, Fortune 50 CEOs and philanthropists, NFL legends, civil rights leaders, Grammy and Oscar-winning musicians and filmmakers, tens of thousands of educators, and millions of grassroots policy activists. Derek serves as executive vice president of Stand Together and as the executive director of both the Stand Together Trust and Stand Together Foundation. He has held leadership positions within the Stand Together community for over 18 years. He also serves on the boards of the Charles Koch Foundation, Abundance Institute, NextLadder Ventures, and the VELA Education Fund. Derek lives with his family in Alexandria, VA.
Dave LaMattina Since founding Copper Pot Pictures in 2007, Dave LaMattina and his creative partner Chad Walker have produced and directed films and series on all platforms. I AM BIG BIRD (Tribeca), their documentary about Caroll Spinney, who was Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch for 50 years, played to sold out crowds in theaters across the country and festivals around the world. Following their success with the film, the pair created THE ZOO, a docuseries set at the Bronx Zoo, now streaming on HBO Max. Its instant popularity spawned two spinoffs: THE ZOO: SAN DIEGO and THE AQUARIUM. Upcoming projects include DON BLUTH: SOMEWHERE OUT THERE, about the legendary filmmaker behind An American Tail, The Land Before Time and more, and THE ANIMAL SANCTUARY, a dynamic wildlife rescue show set at Tasmania's Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, which will launch on Paramount Australia before a global rollout in 2026.
Talon Talon landed in D.C. in April, 1996 when he heard of the new MLS team starting to play in the Nation's Capital, Washington DC.
