Rai's documentary “Azzurro Shocking, come le donne si sono riprese il calcio” conceived by the Communications Department on the occasion of Euro 2022 and produced in collaboration with the FIGC, won in the Sports Documentary category of the Rockie Awards 2023, an award given by the prestigious Banff World Media Festival. From its premiere on Rai 1 on July 9 last year to the recognition obtained at the international festival held in Canada, the docu thus continues to garner acclaim.

Between archive footage and exclusive interviews, "Azzurro shocking" is a unedited, choral account of the history of women's soccer, from its origins to the recent transition to professionalism on July 1, 2022. The voices of the Women's National Team players of yesterday and today are interwoven with those of the women who, over the decades, have fought with passion to allow the movement to make its way through a thousand prejudices, in a world that for a long time was exclusively male.

"There is nothing more intimate and true than reaching out to people by telling one's story," says Laura Giuliani, "What has been collected in 'Azzurro Shocking' is a small treasure of experiences that, when added together and enhanced, have given birth to something bigger that today sees its evolution and in which I hope many can find themselves. Thanks to those who believed in it and gave birth to this gem."

"It is a well-deserved award," Elena Linari emphasizes, "behind it is a lot of work by people who believed in a growing movement. They allowed us girls to tell and make our stories known. I am so happy to have been a part of it and I hope that more projects of this kind can be realized in the future."

To explain how women took back the ball, the documentary takes a leap back more than 100 years, to the first attempts to start women's teams and leagues, to trace the long period when women's soccer was denied and opposed, and the decades in which it returned to prominence thanks to the sporting feats of women soccer players, and the resourcefulness of men and women who broke new ground. "The story of women's soccer, denied and regained, is both a tale of sport and a symbol, a shining example of women's ability to fight for their rights, to assert their qualities in diversity. This recognition is a prestigious achievement for Rai productions," said CEO, Roberto Sergio.

The festival has for years honored international excellence in film and TV: past winners include Martin Scorsese, with the documentary "No direction home," Isabella Rossellini with "Green Porno live," and cult series such as "The Last Dance" and "Grey's Anatomy." Among this year's honorees are "Dinosaurs: The Final Day with David Attenborough" and "My Life as a Rolling Stone," the 60th anniversary tribute docuseries to the legendary rock band.

Produced by Rai Communications Department and Rai Sport in collaboration with FIGC, Azzurro Shocking is a RAI project, written by Daniela Arpino, Achille Corea, Metis Di Meo and Azzurra Di Tomassi, edited by Francesca Ceci, Roberta Russo, Clelia Fasano and Corrado Bonomi and directed by Azzurra Di Tomassi.