Critical Thinking

It’s 1998 in Miami. Rampant poverty, broken families, and a prejudiced system push underprivileged youth to the fringes of society. But for a magnetic group of teens, there’s a reprieve. A game where it’s not about where you come from, but how you play. That equalizer is chess. Mr. “T” Martinez, a chess militant and passionate coach, leads them to a completely foreign field of battle: the National Chess Championship. With an underfunded school district, Martinez and his team can’t just waltz into the arena. They have to fight for it. Chess runs parallel to their own experiences as Martinez teaches them that the power of Critical Thinking can not only save their kings, but also their lives.

Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.

photo of John Leguizamo

Credits

Director:

John Leguizamo

Executive Producer:

Carla Berkowitz, Harvey R. Chaplin, Emilio Estefan, Jr.

Producer:

Scott Rosenfelt, Jason Mandl

Screenwriter:

Dito Montiel

Cinematographer:

Zach Zamboni

Editor:

Jamie Kirkpatrick

Production Designer:

J. Mark Harrington

Sound Designer:

Andrea Bella

Music:

Chris Hajian

Principal Cast:

John Leguizamo, Michael Kenneth Williams, Rachel Bay Jones, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Angel Bismark Curiel, Will Hochman, Corwin Tuggles, Jeffry Batista, Zora Casebere, Ramses Jimenez

Additional Credits:

Music Supervisor: Mathieu Schreyer, Costume Designer: Danny Santiago

Contact

Public Film Contact:

Carla Berkowitz
Critical Thinking, LLC
cgb@perfectbalance.com

Publicity Contact:

Hilda Somarriba
hilda@prism-mg.com
+1-323-633-7079

Sales Agent:

Mikey Schwartz-Wright

Primary Access
Platinum Badge
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Secondary Access
Music Badge
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About
Year:
2019
Premiere Status:
| Screening Section:
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Language:
Runtime:
117 mins