Acclaimed director Mira Nair had said, "We want the diversity of the world that is around us represented both in front of and behind the camera, and on our screens as a result". In agreement with these words, Disney+ Hotstar Premium has a richly diverse library that includes a line-up of superhit international titles directed by talented & inspiring women filmmakers. These include award-winning titles, like the recently released Nomadland which swept the Oscar Awards this year. Chloe Zhao created history by becoming the first woman of colour, and only the second woman ever, to win the award for Directing.
From the smashit 'The One and Only Ivan' helmed by acclaimed British director Thea Sharrock to 'Black is King', a visual album directed, written, and executive produced by the Queen of Pop Beyonce, these titles from across genres feature strong messages, stories, or characters. Here’s a...
From the smashit 'The One and Only Ivan' helmed by acclaimed British director Thea Sharrock to 'Black is King', a visual album directed, written, and executive produced by the Queen of Pop Beyonce, these titles from across genres feature strong messages, stories, or characters. Here’s a...
- 5/17/2021
- by Glamsham Editorial
- GlamSham
If you, too, were on the edge of your seat while binge-watching Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit, you’re not alone. Based on the 1983 Walter Tevis book of the same name (which takes its title from a popular move), the limited-run series about fictional chess prodigy Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor Joy) set viewership records to the tune of 62 million households in its first 28 days, says the streaming service. The coming-of-age story follows orphaned Harmon as she rises through the ranks in the Sixties and Seventies, proving to be (spoiler alert!
- 12/18/2020
- by Danielle Directo-Meston
- Rollingstone.com
Nikita Pearl Waligwa, who appeared in Disneys biographical drama "Queen of Katwe", has died. She was 15.
According to a Ugandan media report, Pearl Waligwa had been diagnosed with a brain tumour, reports bbc.com.
The 2016 film was based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi, who took up chess aged nine despite not being in school and went on to compete in international tournaments. "Queen of Katwe" starred Lupita Nyong'o as her mother and David Oyelowo as her chess teacher.
Waligwa played the role of Gloria, a friend of Phiona who explained the rules of chess to her.
She was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2016 and "Queen of Katwe" director Mira Nair reportedly mobilised people to help fund her treatment in India, with Ugandan doctors quoted as saying they did not have the necessary equipment. She was given the all-clear in 2017 but last year was found to have another tumour.
According to a Ugandan media report, Pearl Waligwa had been diagnosed with a brain tumour, reports bbc.com.
The 2016 film was based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi, who took up chess aged nine despite not being in school and went on to compete in international tournaments. "Queen of Katwe" starred Lupita Nyong'o as her mother and David Oyelowo as her chess teacher.
Waligwa played the role of Gloria, a friend of Phiona who explained the rules of chess to her.
She was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2016 and "Queen of Katwe" director Mira Nair reportedly mobilised people to help fund her treatment in India, with Ugandan doctors quoted as saying they did not have the necessary equipment. She was given the all-clear in 2017 but last year was found to have another tumour.
- 2/17/2020
- GlamSham
Nikita Pearl Waligwa, the young star of the 2016 Disney film Queen of Katwe, has died, according to multiple outlets. She was 15.
Waligwa had been diagnosed with a brain tumor prior to her death, according to Deadline. The BBC reported that she was first diagnosed with the tumor in 2016, when Queen of Katwe director Mira Nair reportedly helped raise funds for her treatment in India, as Ugandan doctors said they did not have the necessary equipment.
Waligwa recovered in 2017 after the treatment, according to BBC, but another tumor was found last year.
Waligwa starred alongside Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo in the film,...
Waligwa had been diagnosed with a brain tumor prior to her death, according to Deadline. The BBC reported that she was first diagnosed with the tumor in 2016, when Queen of Katwe director Mira Nair reportedly helped raise funds for her treatment in India, as Ugandan doctors said they did not have the necessary equipment.
Waligwa recovered in 2017 after the treatment, according to BBC, but another tumor was found last year.
Waligwa starred alongside Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo in the film,...
- 2/16/2020
- by Helen Murphy
- PEOPLE.com
Nikita Pearl Waligwa, the young actress seen in the 2016 Disney film, “Queen of Katwe,” has died, according to the Ugandan newspaper The Daily Monitor. Waligwa, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016, was 15.
“Queen of Katwe,” about a chess prodigy from a Uganda slum, was based on the true story of 9-year-old Phiona Mutesi, who went on to compete in international tournaments. Waligwa played the best friend of fellow screen newcomer Madina Malwanga’s Phiona. Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo also starred.
When Waligwa was diagnosed, the film’s director, Mira Nair, rallied supporters for the girl to help find her treatment in India as local doctors said they didn’t have the tools that were necessary to fight the tumor.
Also Read: 'Queen of Katwe' Toronto Review: David Oyelowo Mentors a Chess Champ in Uplifting Tale
Although treatment resulted in an “all clear” from doctors in...
“Queen of Katwe,” about a chess prodigy from a Uganda slum, was based on the true story of 9-year-old Phiona Mutesi, who went on to compete in international tournaments. Waligwa played the best friend of fellow screen newcomer Madina Malwanga’s Phiona. Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo also starred.
When Waligwa was diagnosed, the film’s director, Mira Nair, rallied supporters for the girl to help find her treatment in India as local doctors said they didn’t have the tools that were necessary to fight the tumor.
Also Read: 'Queen of Katwe' Toronto Review: David Oyelowo Mentors a Chess Champ in Uplifting Tale
Although treatment resulted in an “all clear” from doctors in...
- 2/16/2020
- by Rosemary Rossi
- The Wrap
Nikita Pearl Waligwa, an actor who appeared in Disney’s biographical drama “Queen of Katwe,” has died, according to BBC and the Ugandan newspaper Daily Monitor. She was 15.
Waligwa had been diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016 and seemed to recover a year later. However, in 2019, another tumor was found. “Queen of Katwe” director Mira Nair helped organize efforts to fund Waligwa’s treatment during filming, according to BBC.
The young actor played a girl named Gloria in “Queen of Katwe.” She was a close friend of main character Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), and taught her how to play chess. The film told the real-life story of Mutesi who is one of Uganda’s most successful chess players. She won three Ugandan Women’s Junior Championship and has represented the country at four international chess olympiads.
Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo also starred in the film. They played Mutesi’s mother and chess teacher.
Waligwa had been diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016 and seemed to recover a year later. However, in 2019, another tumor was found. “Queen of Katwe” director Mira Nair helped organize efforts to fund Waligwa’s treatment during filming, according to BBC.
The young actor played a girl named Gloria in “Queen of Katwe.” She was a close friend of main character Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), and taught her how to play chess. The film told the real-life story of Mutesi who is one of Uganda’s most successful chess players. She won three Ugandan Women’s Junior Championship and has represented the country at four international chess olympiads.
Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo also starred in the film. They played Mutesi’s mother and chess teacher.
- 2/16/2020
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
Nikita Pearl Waligwa, an actress who starred in the 2016 Walt Disney film Queen of Katwe, has died. She had been diagnosed with a brain tumor, according to Ugandan media.
The film was about a chess prodigy rising from a Ugandan slum and was based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi. She began playing chess at age nine and went on to compete in international tournaments.
Queen of Katwe starred Lupita Nyong’o as her mother and David Oyelowo as her chess teacher. Waligwa portrayed Gloria, a friend of Phiona who explained the rules of chess to her.
Waligwa was initially diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016, and her film family mobilized to get her treatment in India. She made a recovery in 2017, but the tumor returned last year.
In the 2016 biographical film, Phiona Mutesi learns chess through charity worker Robert Katende, played by British actor David Oyelowo. He encourages the...
The film was about a chess prodigy rising from a Ugandan slum and was based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi. She began playing chess at age nine and went on to compete in international tournaments.
Queen of Katwe starred Lupita Nyong’o as her mother and David Oyelowo as her chess teacher. Waligwa portrayed Gloria, a friend of Phiona who explained the rules of chess to her.
Waligwa was initially diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016, and her film family mobilized to get her treatment in India. She made a recovery in 2017, but the tumor returned last year.
In the 2016 biographical film, Phiona Mutesi learns chess through charity worker Robert Katende, played by British actor David Oyelowo. He encourages the...
- 2/16/2020
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Nikita Pearl Waligwa, the young actress who starred in the 2016 film Queen of Katwe, has died at the age of 15. She had been diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016, according to Ugandan newspaper The Daily Monitor.
Waligwa was best known for her role in the Disney pic about a chess prodigy from a Ugandan slum. Queen of Katwe was based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi, a 9-year-old chess player who famously competed in international tournaments.
Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo starred in the film, in which Waligwa played the role of Phiona's friend Gloria, who ...
Waligwa was best known for her role in the Disney pic about a chess prodigy from a Ugandan slum. Queen of Katwe was based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi, a 9-year-old chess player who famously competed in international tournaments.
Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo starred in the film, in which Waligwa played the role of Phiona's friend Gloria, who ...
- 2/16/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Nikita Pearl Waligwa, the young actress who starred in the 2016 film Queen of Katwe, has died at the age of 15. She had been diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016, according to Ugandan newspaper The Daily Monitor.
Waligwa was best known for her role in the Disney pic about a chess prodigy from a Ugandan slum. Queen of Katwe was based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi, a 9-year-old chess player who famously competed in international tournaments.
Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo starred in the film, in which Waligwa played the role of Phiona's friend Gloria, who explained ...
Waligwa was best known for her role in the Disney pic about a chess prodigy from a Ugandan slum. Queen of Katwe was based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi, a 9-year-old chess player who famously competed in international tournaments.
Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo starred in the film, in which Waligwa played the role of Phiona's friend Gloria, who explained ...
- 2/16/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Alicia Keys has contributed songs to dozens of soundtracks including “The Great Gatsby,” “Muscle Shoals,” “Quantum of Solace” and “Drumline.” But Mira Nair’s “Queen of Katwe,” which features a Keys original, “Back to Life,” was a different kind of project.
Keys first discovered the true story of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi (portrayed by Madina Nalwanga in her debut) “by a little twist of fate” in 2011, when Tim Crothers’ remarkable feature story on the budding prodigy was published by Espn’s magazine (a year later, Crothers published the book “The Queen of Katwe,” on which Nair’s film is based).
Producing partner Jeff Robinson gave the article to Keys, in hopes that they could develop it under their Big Pita, Little Pita Productions banner. While that didn’t ultimately pan out, Keys could never quite shake Mutesi’s story.
Read More: Why ‘Hidden Figures’ Is...
Keys first discovered the true story of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi (portrayed by Madina Nalwanga in her debut) “by a little twist of fate” in 2011, when Tim Crothers’ remarkable feature story on the budding prodigy was published by Espn’s magazine (a year later, Crothers published the book “The Queen of Katwe,” on which Nair’s film is based).
Producing partner Jeff Robinson gave the article to Keys, in hopes that they could develop it under their Big Pita, Little Pita Productions banner. While that didn’t ultimately pan out, Keys could never quite shake Mutesi’s story.
Read More: Why ‘Hidden Figures’ Is...
- 1/12/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong'o and Madina Nalwanga lead the cast of a real gem of a movie. Here's our review of Queen Of Katwe...
For a film that's competing with lots of big new releases in UK cinemas this week, there has been rather too much emphasis on how radical Queen Of Katwe is for a Disney film. Adapted from Tim Crothers' 2012 article The Queen Of Katwe: A Story Of Life, Chess and One Extraordinary Girl's Dream Of Becoming A Grandmaster, Mira Nair's winsome sports underdog movie just happens to be set entirely in Uganda.
In the titular Kampala slum, selfless youth ministry coach Robert Katende (David Oyelowo) introduces chess to the local kids by offering free food at his classes. One pupil in particular, Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), proves to be a natural and Robert encourages her to pursue her passion to an international level over a number of years,...
For a film that's competing with lots of big new releases in UK cinemas this week, there has been rather too much emphasis on how radical Queen Of Katwe is for a Disney film. Adapted from Tim Crothers' 2012 article The Queen Of Katwe: A Story Of Life, Chess and One Extraordinary Girl's Dream Of Becoming A Grandmaster, Mira Nair's winsome sports underdog movie just happens to be set entirely in Uganda.
In the titular Kampala slum, selfless youth ministry coach Robert Katende (David Oyelowo) introduces chess to the local kids by offering free food at his classes. One pupil in particular, Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), proves to be a natural and Robert encourages her to pursue her passion to an international level over a number of years,...
- 10/25/2016
- Den of Geek
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