
When We Get to the Top follows two friends who head into the mountains to keep a promise. As their route unfolds, the goal becomes less important than the fear, friendship and resolve shaping their climb.
When We Get to the Top is a 2026 German short film written and directed by Christian Schwarz. Its story centers on two friends who set out into the mountains to fulfill a promise.
The climb soon takes on a wider meaning. Rather than focusing only on the destination, the film frames the journey around fear, friendship and the courage required to continue.
WHEN WE GET TO THE TOP movie details
| Title | WHEN WE GET TO THE TOP |
|---|---|
| Original title | WENN WIR OBEN SIND |
| Release date | |
| Director | Christian Schwarz |
| Writer | Christian Schwarz |
| Languages | German |
| Status | Released |
Story without spoilers
Jona and Levi travel into the mountains with a shared promise to keep. What begins as an attempt to reach the top gradually reveals a more complicated challenge, suggesting that the boys must confront something beyond the physical route ahead. The supplied synopsis keeps the exact nature of that challenge undisclosed, preserving the film’s central tension without giving away its outcome.

What to expect
The film is presented as a short, character-focused story built around two friends, a mountain setting and an emotionally charged objective. Its stated themes include fear, friendship and perseverance. With only Jona and Levi identified in the supplied cast information, the narrative appears tightly centered on their shared experience, while the German-language setting places the story within a German production context.
Cast and creative team
Hannes Tewinkel plays Jona, and Paul Dukatz plays Levi. Christian Schwarz serves as both director and writer, making the film a written and directed work from the same filmmaker.
- Hannes Tewinkel as Jona
- Paul Dukatz as Levi
Release and production context
When We Get to the Top, also known by its original German title Wenn wir oben sind, is listed as a 2026 release with a release date of August 30, 2026. It is in German and was produced by About Us Media. The supplied information identifies it as a short film, but does not provide a runtime, country listing or genre classification.
Production companies: About Us Media
WHEN WE GET TO THE TOP official trailer
Watch the official trailer on YouTube
Movies Dock view
With its compact premise and two-person central cast, When We Get to the Top sets up a focused story about what a promise can demand when fear enters the picture. The film’s concise format and mountain setting provide the framework for a relationship-driven account of persistence, without revealing how the journey ends.
Frequently asked questions
What is When We Get to the Top about?
It follows two friends who go into the mountains to fulfill a promise, only to discover that their journey involves more than reaching the summit.
Who directed When We Get to the Top?
Christian Schwarz directed the film and also wrote it.
Who plays the main characters?
Hannes Tewinkel plays Jona, while Paul Dukatz plays Levi.
What language is the film in?
When We Get to the Top is in German.
When was When We Get to the Top released?
The film is listed with a release date of August 30, 2026.















