Queen of Chess, a new documentary about the legendary GM Judit Polgar, has been selected for the prestigious 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Days after the announcement, it was also revealed that streaming giant Netflix has acquired the rights and will release the film on its platform later next year.
The extraordinary story of the greatest female chess player to have ever played has been selected for screening at one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals. Sundance revealed its official lineup on Wednesday, marking a strong launch for the film and bringing one of chess’s most influential figures to the global stage. The documentary will have four screenings at the festival in Park City, Utah, from January 27 through February 1.
“It is a profound privilege to see Queen of Chess, a thoughtful and candid documentary capturing my path and experiences, chosen for the Sundance Film Festival 2026,” Polgar said in a comment provided to Chess.com, adding:
“From the earliest stages, the filmmaking process was marked by exceptional care; in-depth conversations, extensive reflection, and many long, meaningful dialogues helped shape the story we wished to tell. Even then, I had the feeling that the film would grow into something unique, and witnessing that early intuition unfold on screen has been extraordinary.”
What an honor to have this insightful and honest documentary, Queen of Chess, about my story selected for the Sundance Film Festival! My deepest thanks go to the creative team and to the film’s brilliant director, #RoryKennedy, whose vision shaped every moment. I’m grateful to… https://t.co/9fa1lzZC9c
— Judit Polgar (@GMJuditPolgar) December 10, 2025
The documentary follows the incredible story of Polgar in Hungary as the greatest female chess player of all time, from her rise as a 12-year-old prodigy breaking into the world’s top 100, to her historic achievement at 15 when she surpassed Bobby Fischer as the youngest grandmaster in the world.
The film features interviews with Judit, her family, Garry Kasparov, and other key personalities in the chess world, who share the story of how a little girl was raised in a family experiment to create geniuses. Her rivalry with Kasparov, along with dramatic showdowns and unexpected friendships, forms a central narrative thread in the film.
Queen of Chess is directed by the Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning Rory Kennedy, the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, and sister of the current U.S. Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. She is an acclaimed filmmaker, known for documentaries such as Ghosts of Abu Ghraib (2007) and Last Days in Vietnam (2014).
“We are living in a moment when so many people are still fighting for equal footing—Judit’s life shows what can happen when one person has the resolve to break through barriers,” Kennedy said.
We are living in a moment when so many people are still fighting for equal footing—Judit’s life shows what can happen when one person has the resolve to break through barriers.
—Rory Kennedy
“With this film, my team and I hope to give Judit Polgár, the greatest female chess player in history, the spotlight that her groundbreaking journey deserves,” she added.
As if that wasn’t enough: On Thursday, it was also revealed that Netflix has acquired the rights to stream the documentary to its more than 300 million subscribers worldwide, which will guarantee massive international distribution.
“We are excited to bring Judit’s story to Netflix, where people around the world will be able to witness just what is possible when we challenge assumptions about gender, talent, and opportunity,” Kennedy said.
