Sembène Film Festival – Queen of Katwe

(Runtime: 124minutes)

Queen of Katwe, based on the true story of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi, traces her journey from the Kampala slum of Katwe, where she is forced to abandon her formal schooling at the age of nine, to the upper echelons of the chess world after she develops an interest in the game at a youth-outreach program run by Robert Katende.

Queen of Katwe stars Academy Award winner Lupita Nyongo as Mutesi’s mother along with David Oyelowoas Robert Katende and newcomer Madina Nalwanga as Phiona Mutesi. Queen of Katwe was directed by Academy Award winner Mira Nair.

Sembène – The Film & Art Festival – is a group of scholars, activists and film aficionados. Our mission is to celebrate the life, showcase the work and honor the legacy of African Filmmaker Ousmane Sembene, through film and other complementary cultural events.

The Festival serves both as a vehicle and catalyst: to honor the life, work and legacy of Ousmane Sembene and to showcase film makers and other art/cultural events that speak, unflinchingly, to the important issues facing the modern African Diaspora.