Documentary on Hungarian chess genius Judit Polgár premieres at US film festival and arrives on Netflix this week

The documentary Queen of Chess, chronicling the life of Judit Polgár, the greatest female chess player of all time, will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on Tuesday. Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Rory Kennedy, the film explores Polgár’s extraordinary journey.

“Two years ago, Rory Kennedy approached me about making this documentary,” Polgár said at the world premiere in Park City, Utah. “After receiving many offers following [feature film] The Queen’s Gambit, I chose to work with Rory because I wanted a female director to tell my story. I was also intrigued by the fact that she is not a chess player. How would someone outside the chess world capture the depth, drama, and tension of my life and my family’s story? Rory exceeded all expectations — she created a wonderful film.”

Kennedy, the director, shared her initial inspiration: “I first heard about Judit from a producer friend. Her story — her struggles, her triumphs, and her rise to become the best female chess player in history — completely captivated me. I believe her story deserves far more attention than it has received.”

Chess party with Alec Baldwin:

The 93-minute documentary features previously unseen archival footage and will be released globally on Netflix this Friday, the Hungarian News Agency wrote.

If you missed it:

• Sensational: Judit Polgár named most influential female chess player of the last century
• Hungarian chess legend receives huge recognition!