“Mistboy” is a fictional short film directed by Jakob Michal and produced by Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF. I’m happy to provide a screening link upon request.

A heartfelt thank you to Gudrun Parzich and Michelle Koch for inviting me and taking such good care of me during my stay in Cologne. It was a pleasure to be part of the program and I hope to be back soon!

(Photo Credit: Angelika Huber)

Now in its 10th edition, DOKFENSTER creates a space for young audiences to engage critically with documentary film. This year, I’ll have the pleasure of presenting “Tough Moves” – a portrait of 13-year-old chess boxer Arminius Rolle – and discussing the film with students from grades 7 to 13. Together, we’ll explore questions like: How do we shape reality in documentary storytelling? What is shown, what is left out – and why? How do personal perspectives influence the way we document the world?

As part of the morning screenings, the program also includes “Ten Meter Tower” and “The Waiting”, each contributing a unique lens on decision-making, courage, and observation. I look forward to a lively exchange with the students and am grateful to be part of the program.

DOKFENSTER 2025 is organized by the Dokumentarfilminitiative and curated by Gudrun Parzich and Michelle Koch, with support from the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia and the City of Cologne.

“Tough Moves” is a short documentary directed by Jakob Michal and produced by Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF. The film follows 13-year-old chessboxer Arminius Rolle and his family as they prepare for the German Chessboxing Championship. It was shot in February 2024 and premiered at the 18th Short Film Festival Cologne in November 2024. You can find out more about the film here.

The journey begins in the U.S., where “Tough Moves” will make its New York debut at the NYU Sports Film Festival, held at the iconic Angelika Film Center in Manhattan. Taking place April 25–26, the festival celebrates the intersection of sport and cinema.

Just a day later, the film returns to its roots with a screening at the Sehsüchte International Student Film Festival in Potsdam, one of Europe’s most renowned showcases for emerging filmmakers. It will screen at Waschaus Potsdam on April 26 at 11:30 AM, followed by a Q&A with the team.

Looking ahead to summer, “Tough Moves” travels to Bulgaria for the In The Palace International Short Film Festival (June 27–30), a prestigious Oscar®-qualifying event. The team couldn’t be more grateful for the journey so far!

“Tough Moves” is a short documentary directed by Jakob Michal and produced by Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF. The film follows 13-year-old chessboxer Arminius Rolle and his family as they prepare for the German Chessboxing Championship. It was shot in February 2024 and premiered at the 18th Short Film Festival Cologne in November 2024. Click here to find out more about the film.

Producer Lisa Brandel, Cinematographer Suzanne Caroline de Carrasco and I had a great time at the festival. Being selected for the “New Talent” section was a special honor and an opportunity for us to connect with many likeminded filmmakers. In between screenings and workshops, we spent our days discovering the town, watching the massive waves of the Atlantic crash onto the shore and hunting down as much free food as possible. A special highlight were the parties: Lisa and Suzanne delivered a legendary karaoke performance of Queens “Don’t Stop Me Now“ while I singlehandedly devoured an entire Madeleine tree worth 250€. In all seriousness, we would like to thank the festival staff for their warm welcome and the incredible organization of the event. Their support and hospitality truly made FIPADOC a standout experience.

“Tough Moves” is a short documentary directed by Jakob Michal and produced by Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF. The film follows 13-year-old chessboxer Arminius Rolle and his family as they prepare for the German Chessboxing Championship. It was shot in February 2024 and premiered at the 18th Short Film Festival Cologne in November 2024. Click here to find out more about the film.

“Tough Moves” is a short documentary about 13-year-old chessboxer Arminius Rolle. The film follows him and his family as they prepare for the German Chessboxing Championship. It was shot in February 2024 and completed later that year.

Director’s statement

At first, “chessboxing” sounded a little bit funny to me. I play chess with my friends from time to time and couldn’t see any of us ever landing a punch if we tried. None of the boxers I knew seemed to be that much into board games, either. But when I met Arminius and his father Robert, I quickly realised that they weren’t joking. There was an intense dynamic between the two of them and the training seemed very tough, especially for a 13-year-old.

Arminius reminded me of my own past as an athlete and how difficult it was for me to cope with the high expectations of my coaches. I wanted to capture the pressure and fear of losing that children often face in competitive sports. As we followed Arminius and Robert into their home, their relationship revealed itself to be complex and multi-layered. We got to know a warm-hearted, sports-mad family who stand behind Arminius and want the best for him. Robert wasn’t just a strict coach but also a loving father who Arminius looks up to. I hope that the film does justice to the ambivalence of these roles.

We only had five days to shoot, so we knew we had to find a moment that would reveal something essential about Arminius and his world. The German chessboxing championships became that moment – a test of everything he had trained for, and a chance to observe how the pressure affected not just him, but the whole family. In the days leading up to the fight, tensions rose, routines intensified, and emotions surfaced. For us, the competition wasn’t just a sporting event – it was the lens through which we could explore ambition, fear, pride, and love.

“Der Marder” served as my application film for the BA Directing program at Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, where I’m now studying. While it hasn’t been released publicly, I’m happy to provide a screening link upon request.