I’m excited to announce that my short documentary “Tough Moves” will be part of this year’s DOKFENSTER program in Cologne. From June 23 to 27, 2025, the Filmhaus Kino Köln will once again open its doors to school classes for a week of curated short documentaries and in-depth discussions between filmmakers and students.
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 a program that makes documentary film accessible, thought-provoking, and inclusive.
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.