Six years ago, filmmaker Kristina Kraskov from Melbourne came across an article about an international Microsoft Excel competition. Her first reaction was disbelief: “That can’t be real.” Her second: “There’s got to be a film about this—I’d love to see it.”
Since no documentary on competitive spreadsheets existed, Kraskov decided to create it herself. The topic intrigued her, as her previous work often explored unique subcultures, including a short film about a mullet festival titled *Party in the Back*.
*Spreadsheet Champions*, set to premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival, documents six young contestants from around the world as they travel to Florida for the 2023 Microsoft Office Specialist world championship. While it might seem amusing, Excel is an advanced tool—most users only tap into 10-15% of its functions, but competitors master nearly 70%.
The event, organized by Certiport and recognized by Microsoft, has two parts. The first evaluates participants’ speed and accuracy in solving complex problems involving formulas and functions. The second focuses on creatively interpreting data—Kraskov describes it as uncovering “the story the numbers tell.”
Running since 2002, the competition is open to students aged 13 to 22, with each representing their home country. Surprisingly, despite its niche nature, the stakes are high—contestants may enter only once in their lifetime.
“Unlike sports with recurring rivalries, no competitor returns after their first try,” Kraskov explains. “Qualification periods vary globally, making it a challenge to track participants. But once someone qualified in an accessible location, we contacted them and built connections.”
The film features six contestants: Alkimini, 20, from Greece; Braydon, 16, from Australia; Carmina, 16, from Guatemala; De La Paix, 19, from Cameroon (who studied at school due to lacking a laptop or Wi-Fi); Mason, 15, from the U.S.; and Nam, 21, from Vietnam. Their personalities shine throughout—ranging from reserved and studious to lively and outgoing.
“We wanted to highlight the competition’s brilliance, not mock or belittle anyone,” Kraskov notes. She and producer Anna Charalambous spent roughly a week with each participant in their homes.
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