Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine

An investigation into Garry Kasparov's infamous match against IBM's Deep Blue will be the first movie sponsored through a new documentary fund, set up by a partnership between the BBC, the UK Film Council and the Canadian National Film Board.

Garry Kasparov vs Deep Blue, 1997

Each of the three partners will contribute equally to the fund over the next two years, which will be dedicated exclusively to the production of feature length documentaries for theatrical release. The link-up is down to the enormous popularity and critical success of recent documentaries such as Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine.

Oscar-winning documentary filmer Vikram Jayanti

The first film to be financed by the $3.5-million World Documentary Fund, will be "Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine", produced in conjunction with Alliance Atlantis, which is set for release in theatres this fall. The controversial match marked the first time a computer defeated a reigning world champion in an official match – and also Kasparov's first in match-play.

With Garry Kasparov during a computer fair in Munich

The film will be directed by Vikram Jayanti, an acclaimed master of documentary film-making, who won an Oscar for his work on the 1996 film "When We Were Kings", covering an equally more infamous match-up: the 1974 'Rumble in the Jungle' heavyweight championship boxing bout in Zaire between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.