Chess film project: Destruction of Time

3/17/2014 – A Berlin based group of professional filmmakers is planning a chess documentary as a crowdfunding film project. It is intended to "show how much the crazy chess world has to do with life itself," and the producers will travel to Iceland and to "City Chess" in Kalmykia. To complete the project they need €23,000 (of which 1,210 has been pledged). You can help with financing and ideas.

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Berlin based filmmaker Dennis Siebold is planning a full-length documentary film about oddities in the chess world. An entertaining essay film as much for chess and art enthusiasts as for everybody who is interested in discovering how much the crazy chess world has to do with life itself. You can watch the trailer here:

And interview with the makers of Destruction of Time

What is this project all about?

Destruction of Time will be an essayistic documentary feature film – with a running time of approximately 80 minutes – about the interrelations between chess, art, science, metaphysics and philosophy. We will search for answers to the questions listed below, and many others, in a playful and associative way.

How do you transform the complexity of chess into art, and vice versa?
How is life in "Chess City" in Kalmykia, a federal subject of Russia?
And what's the story about establishing chess as the state religion there?
Was Napoleon able to defeat the world's first chess machine?
And why was the name of that machine "The Turk"?
What's the role of chess in neurosciences?
Is chess really a war game?
And how did it help Stanley Kubrick directing his movies?
When will chess boxing finally become an olympic discipline?
Why did Bobby Fischer's escape end in Iceland, the place where King Canute had his chess board opponent murdered 1000 years ago?
Can chess help to overcome the borders of imagination?
Can chess drive you insane? Or can the meaning of life be found in chess?

We are not only looking for financial support but also for suggestions for more subjects about chess related oddities which we could include in this film. Write your ideas on our Startnext wall, post them on our web site, or send a message to us.

What is the project goal and who is the project for?

The finished movie is supposed to be screened internationally at film festivals. We will be happy to talk to TV stations and film distributors. The film is not only for chess, art and film fans but for everybody who loves entertaining curiosities.

Why should one support this project?

Because without the necessary finances there is a risk for this film will not be made. You might miss a hell of a story. Additionally, supporters also can participate in making content related suggestions and sending us their ideas.

How will we use the money if the project is successfully funded?

The film will be produced. We are very keen to make this movie, so we calculated a budget that is much smaller than the usual costs of producing a film like this. But there are still a lot of expenses to be covered, like technical equipment, licenses, rentals and traveling costs. After all we plan to film some scenes in Chess City, Kalmykia and in Iceland.

Who are the people behind the project?

Dennis Siebold, Writer & Director; Kirsten Kieninger, Editor; John Gürtler, Composer