'Computer Chess' Movie Wins Sloan Prize at Sundance Film Festival 2013

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Sundance Institute Programmers try to teach computers to play chess in Andrew Bujaski's "Computer Chess." The movie, playing in the Next program at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, won Sundance's Alfred P. Sloan Prize.

A recent Chess Blog post told you about the movie 'Computer Chess' that was making waves at the Sundance Film Festival 2013. Now, we have more news: Andrew Bujalski's "Computer Chess," a black-and-white "existential comedy" about the guys who programmed the first chess-playing computer, has won the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, the Sundance Institute announced Thursday.

The prize, presented by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, goes to a film that explores science or technology as a theme or depicts a scientist, engineer or mathematician as a major character.

The Sloan Prize has something most other awards at Sundance don't have: Cash. The winner gets $20,000.

"Computer Chess" is playing in the Next program at Sundance.

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Another Chess Film Wins Film Award!

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

The Tribeca Film Institute has listed Austin filmmaker Andrew Bujalski's 'Computer Chess' as one of three awardees of its Sloan Filmmaker Fund. TFI, in partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, grants funds to narrative film projects that "dramatize science and technology themes in film or that portray scientists, engineers, or mathematicians in prominent character roles."

Bujalski's 80s-themed movie centers on a chess tournament featuring chess players and computer programmers. Of his movie about man-versus-machine, Bujalski says on the United States Artists website, "I'm trying to make a very odd movie indeed, about computer chess programmers circa 1980, and perhaps deep down it's my attempt to vicariously peek into the fantasy braniac life I ought to have pursued as a kid. It happens to be a fascinating era for the field."

In addition to the monetary prize, Bujalski ("Mutual Appreciation," "Beeswax") and other grant recipients receive year-round mentoring from science experts and members of the film industry.

Bujalski raised more than $50,000 for his film via the United States Artists website and received a grant from the Texas Filmmaker Production Fund.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com