Written and directed by Andrew Bujalski, “Computer Chess” is a singular, offbeat comedy-drama that transports viewers to the dawn of the digital age. Set over the course of a weekend tournament for chess software programmers more than 30 years ago, the film captures a nostalgic moment when the contest between technology and the human spirit still felt uncertain—and full of possibility.
- Watch the trailer.
Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize, “Computer Chess” went on to screen at major festivals including South by Southwest and the Maryland Film Festival after its release. Shot entirely on vintage analog video cameras, this black-and-white feature embraces its retro aesthetic as it introduces us to eccentric visionaries determined to teach a metal box to defeat man at his own game—laying the groundwork for artificial intelligence as we know it today, and as we will come to know it in the future.
- MPAA rating: This film is not rated and includes brief nudity and adult subject matter.
- Prior to the screening, consider attending The Origins of Inspiration, a discussion with filmmaker Andrew Bujalski and his wife, author Karen Olsson. Registration is required to attend.
Schedule:
- 6:00 pm Doors open for seating
- 6:30 pm Welcome and remarks from director Andrew Bujalski and actor Wiley Wiggins
- 7:00 pm Computer Chess screening