Private Project

Grandmaster

On the eve of the game that could finally make him world champion, an ambitious chess prodigy has a fateful encounter with a player better than him.

  • Vili Sakselin
    Director
  • Vili Sakselin
    Writer
  • Vili Sakselin
    Producer
  • Samuli Kuusisto
    Cinematographer
    Might of the Gods, Neon Snow, Days of March
  • John Kamau
    Key Cast
    "Felix"
    His House, Black Ops
  • David Keyes
    Key Cast
    "Paul"
    Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Blitz, The Wolfman
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 30, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    2,500 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Sussex
  • Brighton Rocks International Film Festival
    Brighton
    United Kingdom
    June 26, 2024
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Vili Sakselin

Vili Sakselin is a director, screenwriter, and producer. At the age of nineteen, he moved from his home country of Finland to the United Kingdom to pursue an education in filmmaking. His MA graduate film Grandmaster is currently applying for festivals worldwide while he completes post-production for his second independent short film, Doubt.

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Director Statement

When I was eight years old I was moved to a foster home where I grew up alongside a son and a daughter who were European champions in race walking and figure skating respectively. My foster father would try to train me as well in running, but I never had what it took to crack even a local competition. I felt awful.

Although I spent many years feeling jealous, as we grew up I began to realise that I was actually doing better than my foster siblings. Unlike them, my self-worth and relationship with my father weren’t determined by my performance in a sport. When I finally began making films, this realisation re-surfaced and I knew I wanted my first film to explore the dynamic that I grew up around. We all love a winner, but what about those countless others who might work even harder but still come up second? What would it look like if they finally broke?

Grandmaster is a thriller, but the reason why I wanted to make it is the look that the ruthless father and unrelenting son share in the final moments of the film. Unlike we'd love to believe, the sad reality is that not all children are winners in the eyes of their parents. Some might have to kill for the privilege.