Disney's Queen Of Katwe on Digital HD on Jan. 10 and Blu-ray on Jan. 31

Disney’s Heartwarming and Triumphant “Queen of Katwe” Arrives Home 

on Digital HD on Jan. 10 and Blu-ray™ on Jan. 31

Go behind-the-scenes with the film’s extraordinary cast and the real people behind the inspiring true story!

BURBANK, Calif., Nov. 18, 2016 — Home audiences will cheer for Disney’s “Queen of Katwe,” the inspirational journey of a young girl from the streets of Uganda to world-class chess player, which has earned widespread critical acclaim, including a 93% Certified Fresh critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes. The triumphant film, which is based on a true story, arrives home on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) on Jan. 10 and on Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand on Jan. 31.

The in-home release of “Queen of Katwe” takes viewers behind-the-scenes with filmmakers, as well as the cast and their real-life counterparts, through extensive bonus features, including a three-part documentary highlighting the amazing personal stories behind the film; audio commentary by director Mira Nair (“Salaam Bombay!,” “Mississippi Masala,” “Monsoon Wedding”); a short film by Nair depicting the life of Robert Katende; in-studio access to 15-time GRAMMY® Award-winning recording artist Alicia Keys during the creation of her new original song “Back to Life;” deleted scenes; and more. 

“Queen of Katwe” is based on the vibrant true story of a young girl (Madina Nalwanga) from the streets of Uganda whose world changes when she is introduced to the game of chess, and, as a result of the support she receives from her family and community, is instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion. It is a remarkable story of perseverance against all odds that will leave viewers feeling humbled and inspired.  According to director Mira Nair, “The triumph of the human spirit is not to weep for what we don’t have but to focus on what we do have and allow that to take us to a place we never imagined possible.”

The film stars David Oyelowo, Golden Globe® nominated for his portrayal of Martin Luther King Jr. in “Selma,” as dedicated chess mentor Robert Katende; Lupita Nyong’o, who earned worldwide acclaim with her Oscar®-winning performance in “12 Years a Slave,” as fiercely determined mother Harriet; and luminous newcomer Madina Nalwanga as chess champion Phiona Mutesi.

Directed by Mira Nair from a screenplay by William Wheeler, “Queen of Katwe” is produced by Lydia Dean Pilcher, p.g.a., and John Carls, p.g.a., with Will Weiske and Troy Buder serving as executive producers. The film features a cutting-edge Afrobeat soundtrack curated by the Ugandan rapper Young Cardamom (aka Zohran Kwame Mamdani); Alex Heffes’ buoyant orchestral score highlighting traditional Ugandan instruments; and “Back to Life,” performed by Alicia Keys, written by Keys, Carlo Montagnese and Billy Walsh, and produced by Illangelo and Keys. 

Bonus features include*:

BLU-RAY & DIGITAL HD:

• Queen Of Katwe: Their Story – Discover the stories behind the people who came together to bring the film to life, and how they reflect the vibrant community, culture and spirit it celebrates.
• A Fork, A Spoon & A Knight – Director Mira Nair’s short film about Robert Katende, a boy who grows up to transform a Ugandan city into a globally renowned chess sanctuary.
• In The Studio With Alicia Keys – Go behind-the-scenes with Alicia Keys for an inspiring look at the song’s recording.
• Alicia Keys “Back To Life” Lyric Video – Sing along with on-screen lyrics.
• Young Cardamom & HAB “#1 Spice” Music Video – The Ugandan hip-hop duo bring the flavor in a music video directed by Mira Nair.
• Audio Commentary – With Director Mira Nair.
• Deleted Scenes (8) – With Introductions by Director Mira Nair.
• Graduation – Robert is alone at his graduation.
• Job Application - Robert checks in on the status of his job application.
• Dancing and Rent - Phiona joins in dancing with local girls before the landlady pulls her away.
• Entering the Hospital - Harriet tries to look presentable as they rush Brian to the hospital.
• Escape from the Hospital – The family sneaks out of the hospital.
• They Can’t Go to Budo – Robert second-guesses taking the kids to the competition at King’s College Budo. 
• Flood (Extended Scene) – A nearly 7-minute scene before, during and after the house is flooded.
• Phiona’s Chess Club - Phiona comes full circle as she teaches a little boy the same lessons Robert taught her in chess club. 

DVD:

• Audio Commentary
• Alicia Keys “Back to Life” Lyric Video
• Young Cardamom & HAB “#1 Spice” Music Video

*Bonus features may vary by retailer

DISC SPECIFICATIONS:

Product SKUs: Digital HD/SD, Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray, DVD & Digital Copy),

Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand

Feature Run Time: Approximately 145 minutes

U.S. Rating: PG (bonus features are not rated)

Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 (16x9)

Audio: Blu-ray = English 5.1 DTS-HDMA, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital,

Latin Spanish/French 5.1 Dolby Digital

DVD = English, Latin Spanish & French 5.1 Dolby, English DVS 2.0 Dolby

Languages/Subtitles:  English SDH, Spanish, French

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook: Facebook.com/QueenofKatwe

Website:  Disney.com/QueenofKatwe

Twitter: Twitter.com/QueenofKatwe

Instagram: Instagram.com/QueenofKatweMovie

DISNEY MOVIES ANYWHERE (DMA): 

Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) is an engaging and family-friendly cloud-based digital movie service that makes it easy to buy Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars movies once and watch them anywhere. Viewers can enjoy their digital movies from the comfort of their living room and across multiple mobile platforms by simply adding the free DMA app or channel to their devices, such as iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android mobile phones and tablets, Android TV, Amazon’s Fire tablets, Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Roku, and Xbox 360, and connecting to their DMA account with participating providers including iTunes, Amazon Video, VUDU, Google Play, Microsoft Movies & TV and Fios by Verizon. DMA users can explore Disney’s library of over 450 digital movies, discover hours of new and exclusive short-form content, redeem Digital Movie codes found in eligible Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars product, and earn Disney Movie Rewards points with every digital purchase.

ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS:

For over 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; Lucasfilm; and Touchstone Pictures. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!.

Disney's Queen of Katwe - A Smart, Inspiring and Heartfelt Film

Queen of Katwe is the heartwarming and inspirational story of Phiona (Madina Nalwanga) Mutesi, a young girl in Uganda who becomes a very unlikely chess prodigy. Based on a true story, you get an amazing powerful film about real people facing real problems. You get our young hero who is looking for a way out, a single mother trying to keep her family together and a coach who seeks his own personal redemption.

We begin by seeing Phiona about to win the national championship for chess and then we skip back in time to see where she started. Growing up in extreme poverty in the slum of Katwe, Phiona discovers the game of chess from Robert Katende (David Oyelowo), a missionary and soccer player who has set up a chess club.

Robert quickly recognizes Phiona's natural skills to play chess and mentors her. Meanwhile Phiona's mother Harriet (Lupia Nyong'o), who sells vegetables to take care of Phiona and her two brothers, is worried that Robert's interest in Phiona is to good to be true. She is worried that as Phiona gets to see more of the world, the less she will want to stay in Katwe.

The true strength of this film is in it's actors. Newcomer Nalwanga is a natural, bringing an amazing spirit to the character ass she learns more and more herself and her abilities. We watch Phiona grow into an empowered young woman who knows that there is more for her and she will go out and get it. Oyelowo continues to establish himself as one of Hollywood's strongest leading men showcasing the strength of Robert in terms of emotion and conviction. Nyong'o brings another amazing performance to a mother who goes above and beyond for her family with little regard for herself.

A wonderful movie that will grow in it's popularity over the years. Powerful performances and newcomer Nalwanga is a welcomed breath of fresh air to the acting scene. A thoughtful and heartfelt film that is one of the best sports movies from Disney yet. Always wonderful to see a film about a smart woman at the top of her game. Queen of Katwe opens in theaters September 23rd, 2016.

DISNEY'S QUEEN OF KATWE - World Premiere Photos from Toronto Film Festival

Disney’s “Queen of Katwe” received its world premiere at Roy Thompson Hall earlier tonight as part of the 2016 Toronto Film Festival, where the cast, filmmakers and real life stars received a standing ovation. The film, which is based on the vibrant true story of a young girl from the streets of Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess, stars David Oyelowo, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o and newcomer Madina Nalwanga and is directed by Mira Nair.

Website:                       www.disney.com/queenofkatwe

Facebook:                     QueenOfKatwe

Instagram:                    @QueenofKatweMovie

Twitter:                        @QueenofKatwe

ALICIA KEYS PARTNERS WITH DISNEY ON NEW SONG FEATURED IN "QUEEN OF KATWE" - SPECIAL FIRST LOOK NOW AVAILABLE

DISNEY PARTNERS WITH 15-TIME GRAMMY® AWARD-WINNING 

SINGER/SONGWRITER/PRODUCER ALICIA KEYS

ON MIRA NAIR’S UPCOMING FILM “QUEEN OF KATWE” 

STARRING DAVID OYELOWO AND LUPITA NYONG’O 

Here is your first look at a featurette featuring singer/songwriter/producer Alicia Keys and her new song “Back to Life,” which is featured in the upcoming film “Queen of Katwe.” The film, which is based on a true story, is the vibrant true story of a young girl from the streets of Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess starring David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o and newcomer Madina Nalwanga.

The soundtrack is now available for pre-order at Amazon, smarturl.it/KatweAM 

BURBANK, CALIF. (Wednesday, August 31, 2016) – Walt Disney Studios is partnering with 15-time GRAMMY® Award-winning recording artist Alicia Keys (“Girl on Fire,” “No One”) on the studio’s upcoming film release “Queen of Katwe,” which opens in limited release September 23and expands wide September 30, 2016.

The multi-talented singer/songwriter/producer’s new original song, “Back to Life,” appears in the film and on the motion picture soundtrack from Walt Disney Records, which also features the buoyant score from Golden Globe® nominee Alex Heffes (“Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” “The Last King of Scotland”). “Back to Life” was written by Alicia Keys, Carlo Montagnese and Billy Walsh and produced by Illangelo and Keys.

“’Queen of Katwe’ moved me in every way,” says Alicia Keys. “The film beautifully depicts Uganda with such honest attention to detail—the colors, the sounds, the people—all vividly brought to life. But most soulfully, it’s the story of this fearless, brilliant girl Phiona who embodies the message that the rise to success first begins with opportunity, and the belief you have in yourself to pursue something bigger. The song ‘Back To Life’ that I wrote for this film alongside collaborators Illangelo and Billy Walsh, is about pushing past that little voice of doubt in our heads so we can instead, electrify the world. When we allow women to find and express their power and potential, the world changes for the better. I encourage people to see this film, be moved by Phiona's story and then go back into their own communities and encourage a girl who will rise like a flower that breaks through the concrete to see the sun!”

The film’s Academy Award®-nominated director Mira Nair (“Salaam Bombay!,” “Mississippi Masala”) says, “I have carried a torch for Alicia Key’s voice and passionate engagement with the world for years, so it was exciting to have her artistry join ‘Queen of Katwe,’ which celebrates the idea that genius is everywhere!”

“Queen of Katwe,” which will have its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on September 10, is directed by Nair from a screenplay by William Wheeler and stars Golden Globe® nominee David Oyelowo, Oscar® winner and Tony® nominee Lupita Nyong’o and newcomer Madina Nalwanga. The film is based on the vibrant true story of Phiona Mutesi, a young girl from the streets of rural Uganda who is introduced to the game of chess by Robert Katende, a former missionary and soccer coach, and goes on to become an international chess champion. 

About Alicia Keys:

Alicia Keys is a 15-time GRAMMY® Award-winning singer/songwriter/producer, an accomplished actress, a New York Times best-selling author, an entrepreneur and a powerful force in the world of 

activism. Earlier this year Keys released her critically-acclaimed single “In Common.” The song is from Keys’ forthcoming highly-anticipated sixth studio album, due out later this year on RCA Records. Keys will join the judges panel on NBC’s “The Voice” for its 11th season, which premieres on September 19, 2016, alongside Miley Cyrus, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. In September 2014, Keys launched We Are Here, a movement that empowers the global community around a host of issues and initiatives building a better world where all people are heard, respected, equal, and treated with dignity. Keys also co-founded Keep a Child Alive (KCA) and serves as Global Ambassador for the organization.

About The Film:

For 10-year-old Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga) and her family, life in the impoverished slum of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda, is a constant struggle. Her mother, Harriet (Lupita Nyong’o), is fiercely determined to take care of her family and works tirelessly selling vegetables in the market to make sure her children are fed and have a roof over their heads. When Phiona meets Robert Katende (David Oyelowo), a soccer player turned missionary who teaches local children chess, she is captivated. Chess requires a good deal of concentration, strategic thinking and risk taking, all skills which are applicable in everyday life, and Katende hopes to empower youth with the game. Phiona is impressed by the intelligence and wit the game requires and immediately shows potential. Recognizing Phiona’s natural aptitude for chess and the fighting spirit she’s inherited from her mother, Katende begins to mentor her, but Harriet is reluctant to provide any encouragement, not wanting to see her daughter disappointed. As Phiona begins to succeed in local chess competitions, Katende teaches her to read and write in order to pursue schooling. She quickly advances through the ranks in tournaments, but breaks away from her family to focus on her own life. Her mother eventually realizes that Phiona has a chance to excel and teams up with Katende to help her fulfill her extraordinary potential, escape a life of poverty and save her family. 

About Walt Disney Studios: 

For over 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; Lucasfilm; and Touchstone Pictures, the banner under which live-action films from DreamWorks Studios are distributed. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!.

Disney's Queen of Katwe - Official Trailer

Queen of Katwe is the colorful true story of a young girl selling corn on the streets of rural Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess, and, as a result of the support she receives from her family and community, is instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion. Directed by Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding) from a screenplay by William Wheeler (The Hoax) based on the book by Tim Crothers, Queen of Katwe is produced by Lydia Dean Pilcher (The Darjeeling Limited) and John Carls (Where the Wild Things Are) with Will Weiske and Troy Buder serving as executive producers. The film stars Golden Globe® nominee David Oyelowo (Selma), Oscar® winner and Tony Award® nominee Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave) and newcomer Madina Nalwanga.

For 10-year-old Phiona Mutesi (Nalwanga) and her family, life in the impoverished slum of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda, is a constant struggle. Her mother, Harriet (Nyong'o), is fiercely determined to take care of her family and works tirelessly selling vegetables in the market to make sure her children are fed and have a roof over their heads. When Phiona meets Robert Katende (Oyelowo), a soccer player turned missionary who teaches local children chess, she is captivated. Chess requires a good deal of concentration, strategic thinking and risk taking, all skills which are applicable in everyday life, and Katende hopes to empower youth with the game. Phiona is impressed by the intelligence and wit the game requires and immediately shows potential. Recognizing Phiona's natural aptitude for chess and the fighting spirit she's inherited from her mother, Katende begins to mentor her, but Harriet is reluctant to provide any encouragement, not wanting to see her daughter disappointed. As Phiona begins to succeed in local chess competitions, Katende teaches her to read and write in order to pursue schooling. She quickly advances through the ranks in tournaments, but breaks away from her family to focus on her own life. Her mother eventually realizes that Phiona has a chance to excel and teams up with Katende to help her fulfill her extraordinary potential, escape a life of poverty and save her family. Disney's Queen of Katwe will open in U.S. theaters on September 23, 2016.

Follow QUEEN OF KATWE on social!

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/QueenOfKatwe/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/queenofkatwe

Disney's QUEEN OF KATWE - New Poster

Check out the poster for Disney’s “Queen of Katwe,” the vibrant true story of a young girl from the streets of rural Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess. The powerful film, which stars David Oyelowo, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o and newcomer Madina Nalwanga and is directed by Mira Nair, will be released in U.S. theaters this September.