She becomes fascinated with it and soon becomes a top player in the group under Katende's guidance. An actress who starred in the Queen of Katwe, a Disney film about a chess prodigy from a Ugandan slum, has died aged 15, Ugandan media report. Curious, Phiona approaches and learns the game. Nair and editor Barry Brown cut the scenes to create some drama. The movie tells the true story of Phiona Mutesi who went from living in Uganda's slums to … They were Nair's first choices for the roles. Robert is an engineer by profession specializing in Civil, IT & Computer engineering. Queen of Katwe (2016) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. He and his wife Sarah have three daughters, Mercy, Hope and Queen. However, with the support of Coach Katende and the people of Katwe, she returns to chess, ultimately succeeding to the extent that she can purchase a home for her family. The film follows the predictable narrative arc of poor kids rising to take on the country's best. Mutesi is the subject of a 2012 book and a 2016 film called Queen of Katwe. The Queen of Katwe (2016), a biography by American author Tim Crothers, chronicles the life of Phiona Mutesi, a Ugandan woman who became a chess prodigy and later a world-renowned chess champion. [29] A soundtrack album was released on September 23 by Walt Disney Records. Watch the documentary of Robert Katende, “A Fork, A Spoon and a Knight” directed by Mira Nair. Disney was very open to wanting to tell an aspirational story about someone from someplace that is not at all familiar to Western audiences ... this could really fit into one of the things that they do very well – which is telling sports underdog stories and finding the ways the story naturally intersects with that genre of film. Starring David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong'o, and Madina Nalwanga, the film depicts the life of Phiona Mutesi, a girl living in Katwe, a slum of Kampala, the capital of Uganda. Lupita Nyong'o is mourning her 15-year-old "Queen of Katwe" co-star, Nikita Pearl Waligwa, who died over the weekend in Uganda.. Waligwa appeared in … Published by ESPN in 2012, it was optioned that same year by Walt Disney Pictures. She and her younger brother help their mother sell maize in the market. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. And in so doing (and because she’s a really good chess player), she gave hope to her entire community. A Ugandan girl's life changes forever when she discovers she has an amazing talent for chess in this celebration of the human spirit. Brought together by fate, she meets Robert (David Oyelowo) a missionary who coaches soccer and chess to get aimless kids off the street. Phiona leads the Uganda team at the Chess Olympiad in Russia, confident that she will succeed in becoming a Grand Master, securing the necessary finances to lift her family from poverty. The film then proceeds to trace the ups and downs of success at competitions and tournaments for Phiona and her fellow Pioneers. [5][21], Principal photography began in April 2015. The website's critical consensus states: "Queen of Katwe is a feel-good movie of uncommon smarts and passion, and Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo's outstanding performances help elevate the film past its cliches. She grew up in Katwe, Kampala’s largest slum. She also helps care for her baby brother. Her world changes one day when she meets Robert Katende at a missionary program. Robert Katende is 30+ years old. He grew up in the Slums of […] Queen of Katwe Madina Nalwanga David Oyelowo Lupita Nyong'o (2016) Missionary Robert Katende (David Oyelowo) mentors young chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga) in the slum of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda. Add the first question. [42], Queen of Katwe opened on September 23 as a limited release in the United States, with an estimated Friday total of $82,000 averaging $1,577 per screen across 52 selected theaters. I love any story about people who make something from what appears to be nothing. 94% [43], African-American Film Critics Association, Africa Movie Academy Award for Most Promising Actor, Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Director, Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Production Design, Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, "David Oyelowo & Lupita Nyong'o In Talks To Star In 'Queen Of Katwe' For Disney", "Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo star in the new trailer for Queen of Katwe", "David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong'o in Talks for Disney's 'Queen of Katwe, "Why Lupita Nyong'o, Not Superheroes, Represents the Future of Disney", "Toronto To Open With 'The Magnificent Seven'; 'La La Land', 'Deepwater Horizon' Among Galas & Presentations", "Disney's David Oyelowo Drama, 'Queen of Katwe,' Gets Release Date", "Uganda's Queen of Katwe star Nikita Pearl Waligwa dies aged 15", "Uganda: Maurice Kirya to Star Alongside Lupita Nyong'o in Queen of Katwe", "From slum life to Disney film: Ugandan teen chess star 'the ultimate underdog, "Tendo Nagenda Named Executive VP of Production at Disney", "The Inside Story Behind Disney's 'Radical' Queen of Katwe", "Queen of Katwe: Watch Phiona gets the best of her chess partner in first match", "Queen of Katwe: Expanding What a Disney Film Can Be", "Queen of Katwe: The return of Lupita Nyong'o", "David Oyelowo and Lupita Nyong'o talk Oscars diversity and 'Queen of Katwe, "With 'A United Kingdom' and 'Queen of Katwe,' David Oyelowo continues his mission of inclusion", "Disney could be looking at Oscar buzz for 'transcendent' film Queen of Katwe", "Disney unveils first look at Lupita Nyong'o in The Queen of Katwe", "Lupita Nyong'o Is Filming Disney's 'Queen Of Katwe' Chess Biopic In Uganda With David Oyelowo", "Lupita Nyong'o Sets New York Stage Debut In Public Theater's 'Eclipsed, "From Kampala, with love – Director Mira Nair on her new film, the challenge of shooting chess and making a film in what has been her home for the last 27 years", "Meet Tendo Nagenda: Disney Exec and Mastermind behind 'Queen of Katwe, "Alex Heffes to Score Mira Nair's 'Queen of Katwe, "Queen of Katwe story inspired Alicia Keys to write a new song", "Queen of Katwe (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)", "Queen of Katwe (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Deluxe Edition]", "TIFF 2016: Magnificent Seven, Loving, and More Announced for Festival Lineupl", "Cast and Crew Celebrate 'Queen of Katwe' as "a Love Letter to Uganda" at Disney Film's Premiere", "Lupita Nyong'o's 'Queen of Katwe' to Make European Debut at London Film Festival", "Queen of Katwe Is a Bright and Inspiring Success – Mira Nair has returned to form with this piquant Disney movie", "AMAA 2017: Akin Omotoso's Vaya grabs ten nominations, Queen of Katwe, '76 get eight", "Black Reel Award Nominees – 'Moonlight' Leads with 13 Nominations", "La La Land Leads with 12 Nominations for the 22nd Annual Critics' Choice Awards", "Evening Standard British Film Awards – The Longlist", "NAACP Image Awards: Nate Parker & Donald Glover Lead Film & TV Noms; Beyonce Tops Field", "Ewan McGregor, Catherine Zeta Jones, Michael Fassbender, Shana Swash, & Daniel Radcliffe lead National Film Awards UK 2017", "TIFF People's Choice Award cements La La Land in Oscar race—The festival also released its full list of winners", "Women Film Critics Circle Nominations: "Hidden Figures," "13th," & More", Interview with Phiona Mutesi and Robert Katende, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Queen_of_Katwe&oldid=999090945, Album articles lacking alt text for covers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, "Such Aggressiveness in a Girl Is a Treasure", Taryn "Kay" Kyaze as Night, Phiona's older sister, Nikita Pearl Waligwa as Gloria, Phiona's friend, This page was last edited on 8 January 2021, at 12:51. 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