Brooklyn Castle is a documentary that takes a look at a year in the lives of several members of the champion chessteam at I.S. 318, an underserved junior high school where more than 65 percent of students are from homes living under the poverty level, which also happens to have the best - most winning - middle school chess team in the country. Among the team's members are some of the country's highest rated young players; in fact, if Albert Einstein, who was rated about 1800, were to join the team, he'd only rank fourth. The film shows by example the tremendously positive impact that chess and other quality afterschool programs can have on kids, and how these critical programs can literally create a culture of success in any school. (To watch the trailer and learn more about the movie, visit www.brooklyncastle.com.) 

Brooklyn Castle will screen at the Atlanta Film Festival 365 on Saturday, March 31, at 11:30 a.m. at the Landmark Midtown Art Cinema, located at 931 Monroe Drive. There will also be a post-screening forum to discuss the intense importance of chess and other quality afterschool programs. Moderated by Carlton Mackey, Chair of Emory University's Ethics and Arts Initiative, panelists will include Katie Dellamaggiore, director and producer of Brooklyn Castle; Katrina D. Mitchell, Senior Director of the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta; Walter R. Thompson, Ph.D.,Executive Director of After-School All-Stars Atlanta; and Bill Hall, Executive Director of the United States Chess Federation.

There will also be a chess event featuring talented young Atlanta chess players demonstrating the basics of chess as well as more dynamic moves. In addition to exhibition games, Film Festival attendees who feel confident of their skills will be invited to compete in casual games with this group of local chess up-and-comers. The chess event will also feature Frank Johnson, Chess Expert and founder of Chess-Coach.net.Best.

Kali Holloway

Outreach Director

Brooklyn Castle