A new documentary spotlighting women in chess — and the real-life story behind its creation — is set to debut at the Miami Film Festival on April 16.
Madwoman’s Game, directed by Zach Zamboni (Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown), follows Bianca Mitchell-Avila, a young Latina chess enthusiast who first developed the idea for the film as a teenager — long before she had any industry connections.
The project traces her journey through the chess world, where she meets and speaks with top female players, using the game as a framework to explore identity, resilience and strategy. But the story behind the film’s creation is proving just as compelling as what’s on screen.
According to accounts shared by her family, Mitchell-Avila’s motivation dates back to 2020, when — at just 15 — she was featured in a The New York Times article discussing the cultural impact of The Queen’s Gambit. While the recognition was significant, the reaction she encountered online told a different story, with dismissive and toxic commentary questioning the place of women in chess.
Rather than stepping away, she leaned in.
Determined to shift the narrative, Mitchell-Avila began developing the concept for a documentary centered on women in the game — building the idea independently from her home. By 2021, that concept reached Keanu Reeves.
Reeves, who has a personal connection to chess from his time on a high school team, signed on as an executive producer and began what would become a five-year mentorship. His involvement extended beyond a traditional credit, offering creative guidance and helping shepherd the project from an early-stage idea into a finished film.
The documentary is produced by a team that includes Oscar winner Michael Sugar, alongside Sugar23, UltraBoom and Starbucks Studios, as the latter continues expanding into original programming. The project has also been described as having potential to evolve into a series.
On screen, Madwoman’s Game highlights the experiences of women navigating a male-dominated sport, while framing chess as a broader metaphor for life — emphasizing foresight, adaptability and perseverance.
Off screen, it stands as a rare example of long-term creative mentorship in Hollywood, with Mitchell-Avila’s family crediting Reeves’ sustained support as pivotal in bringing the film to completion.
The film will make its world premiere April 16 at the Miami Film Festival, marking the first public look at a project year in the making — and a story that, until now, has largely remained behind the scenes.
