Brooklyn Castle

Brooklyn, NY is home to I.S. 318, a junior high school that has won an astonishing 26 national chess titles. In this documentary, we follow the five kids who have made this year's team the school's strongest ever. But, like so many schools and so many after school programs across the country, 318's chess club is facing budget cuts that could prove to be their end game. BROOKLYN CASTLE is an intimately charming and moving look into the struggles each young student faces – not just on the chessboard, but in life as well. Each of the five main students has his or her own story of heartbreak, underdog mentality, and dedication to be the best they can be; and in the process they become heroes. Thanks to the perseverance of their coaches and teammates, I.S. 318 works hard to stay alive for another season. We follow the team as they travel to tournaments and feel the drama as they try to achieve through chess what school board budget cuts continually fail to give them in life: a chance to become kings and queens. –T.W.