Six young athletes arrive at a secluded former monastery in Southern Europe to compete for victory at the elite Mary-Tyrone-Tennisakademie, where the boundaries between ambition and morality steadily dissolve under the direction of Nikias Chryssos. Detroit-born tennis player Sophie enters this isolated sporting crucible, greeted initially by a competitor named Heidi before the environment turns hostile. Targeted by her peers, Sophie faces a grueling test that forces her to keep playing despite thumbtacks embedded directly inside her sports shoes.
Production Roots across North Rhine-Westphalia and Spain
Filming for the film took place between October 14 and November 22, 2024, utilizing locations across North Rhine-Westphalia and Spain. Augenschein Filmproduktion handled the main production in coproduction with Port au Prince Film & Kultur Produktion, with Jonas Katzenstein and Maximilian Leo serving as producers. The project involved backing from Das kleine Fernsehspiel via ZDF, alongside financial support from the Deutscher Filmförderfonds and the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW. Behind the camera, Constantin Campean managed cinematography, Jim Williams composed the original score, Anselm Koneffke edited the feature, and Alexandra Koknat directed casting.
Festival Circuit Premieres and Global Streaming Releases
The film made its world premiere on August 7, 2026, at the Locarno Film Festival, before arriving on the streaming platform Shudder on September 25, 2026. An Austrian premiere followed on September 30, 2026, at the Slash Filmfestival, where director Nikias Chryssos earned the Méliès d’argent for best feature film. Additional festival recognition includes a Méliès d’or nomination for best feature film at the Sitges Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya, alongside a nomination in the NRW competition at the Film Festival Cologne. Furthermore, Chryssos received the award for best direction at Fantastic Fest 2026.
Theatrical Rollout and Critical Reception in German-Speaking Cinemas
Port au Prince Pictures scheduled the theatrical release in Germany for December 10, 2026, backed by a Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft approval certificate under FSK number 283324. Lunafilm arranged the theatrical debut in Austria for the following day. Writing for uncut.at, critic Alfred Koblmüller noted that the film attempts to merge elements of queer cinema and body horror, though it falls short in certain aspects and fails to fully exhaust its compelling potential. At the same time, Koblmüller highlighted the remarkable performances delivered by Sandra Guldberg Kampp and Helena Zengel, which provide the film with worthwhile moments despite its narrative shortcomings.
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