Keanu Reeves added another kind deed to his resume by helping a teenager turn a passion project about women in chess into a finished documentary. The film, Madwoman's Game, will have its world premiere at the Miami Film Festival on April 16.
From a kitchen table idea to a festival premiere
In 2020, then-teenager Bianca Mitchell-Avila was quoted in an article about a popular chess show. The reaction online included a lot of negative and hostile comments aimed at women who play chess. Instead of backing away, Bianca decided to make a documentary that highlights women in the game.
She started small, working from her kitchen table with no Hollywood contacts. By 2021, she somehow got her project noticed by Keanu Reeves. He liked the idea and signed on as an executive producer, offering oversight and guidance.
Five years of mentorship
Bianca's parents shared the story publicly ahead of the film’s premiere, saying Reeves has been mentoring her for more than five years. They also noted that he played on his high school chess team, which may explain part of his interest. Reeves helped the family navigate the industry and supported Bianca whenever she needed it.
How she first pitched the film
In 2021, Bianca uploaded a short pitch video titled "Welcome to The Madwoman’s Game." In that video, a 16-year-old Bianca lays out her vision and mentions early commitments from notable women in the chess world, including Jennifer Shahade and Alexandra Botez.
What the film is about
The official synopsis describes Madwoman's Game as the story of a young Latina chess player who sees chess as more than competition. Through travel, mentorship, and matches with world-class women players, Bianca explores how chess lessons apply to life. The film centers on the question: if life is like a game of chess, how do we play it?
Madwoman's Game will premiere on April 16 at the Miami Film Festival. Bianca’s parents say they will share more details soon about how the project found its way to Reeves and how he became involved.
