Queens in Training
A short documentary of young coloured girls
playing chess competitively
There can never be too many films about girls playing chess, but it is true that recently there have been a plethora of such films. Perhaps it is about riding on the crest of the wave created by the Queen of Katwe’s success, or maybe the theme of the fairer sex playing chess is just more interesting to explore than the traditional male dominated chess films.







Deanna Del Ciello’s ”Queens in Training” (2017) profiles several young coloured girls as they prepare to play in a city wide tournament in Washington D.C. This short documentary demonstrates the lessons and experiences we all learn growing up: winning, losing, striving toward a goal and overcoming the pressures and obstacles of society. It provides insight into facing a challenge head-on through the eyes of a child.
Deanna is a multi-talented documentary film maker and award winning videographer, editor and producer based in Washington D.C.
You can see the Trailer for this video HERE