In director Kristina Kraskov’s spirited Spreadsheet Champions, a group of young competitors from around the world vie for glory at the 2023 Excel Spreadsheet World Championships. We posed our Qs à la mode to Kristina, and here’s what she shared!
If I had to describe my film using only three adjectives, they would be: Unusual, surprising and wonderful.
I wanted to make this film because: I learned there was an Excel Spreadsheet World Championship! I had so many questions, there was no choice but to enter the world and find out more.
The thing that surprised me most while making my film was: The young people we followed. There are so many negative stereotypes about youth that our participants smashed wide open. I feel so much better about the world’s future knowing these six young people are in it.
My favorite moment/scene/sequence in my film is: The awards ceremony, what an emotional rollercoaster. I held back tears filming it and I still struggle when I watch it now. People mistakenly think a documentary about an Excel competition will be boring, these are elite athletes with everything riding on one announcement!
My most invaluable piece of doc-making equipment was/is: Definitely my camera, a Sony FX6. It was small enough to not overwhelm participants and traipse around the world with, still mighty enough to capture beautiful moments.
My must-have snack to get me through hours in the editing room is: Always a fresh piece of fruit and a nice cup of tea. Nashi pears were in season during our edit and I ate an entire box.
One piece of documentary-filmmaking advice I’d like to share with aspiring documentarians is: Stay true to you, your values and life experiences. The more you can understand and engage with your subject the stronger your storytelling will be.
Want to check out Kristina’s film or just learn more about it?
Get the scoop, and your tickets, here!
