South African actress and co-producer Ama Qamata is bringing her internationally acclaimed film Fight Like a Girl home this Women’s Month, with special screenings planned for Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The African drama will premiere at Ster-Kinekor Sandton in Johannesburg before screening at Ster-Kinekor V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. The screenings are presented in partnership with Ster-Kinekor and in collaboration with Women For Change, as part of a wider conversation around celebrating women, amplifying their voices and confronting gender-based violence and femicide.
Set in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Fight Like a Girl follows Safi, a young woman who escapes forced labour at an illegal mineral mine and begins rebuilding her life after joining an all-women’s boxing club in Goma. Through sport, she finds healing, confidence and a renewed sense of purpose.
Qamata leads the film and also serves as co-producer. Her performance has already earned international recognition, including the Rising Star Award at the Naples International Film Festival and a Best Actress nomination at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
Reflecting on the film’s South African homecoming, Qamata said bringing Fight Like a Girl home to South Africa during Women’s Month is deeply meaningful to me.
“This film honours the courage, resilience and strength of women across our continent, while reminding us why authentic African stories must be seen and celebrated,” she says.
“Being part of this project has felt completely aligned with my purpose: to use my voice and platform to uplift women, create meaningful conversations and help tell stories that deserve to be seen. I hope South African audiences leave the cinema feeling inspired, empowered and reminded of the strength within them.”
Written and directed by Matthew Leutwyler, the film was inspired by a real-life women’s boxing club that the filmmakers documented for more than five years. Internationally acclaimed actor Hakeem Kae-Kazim also stars as the coach who helps Safi rebuild her confidence and reclaim her future.
Fight Like a Girl has already made an impact on the international festival circuit, receiving eight Africa Movie Academy Award nominations and winning Best Original Score. It was also named Best Feature Film at the South African Independent Film Festival and received the Industry Choice Award at Dances With Films in Los Angeles.
The film has also received critical praise, with The Guardian highlighting its “fiercely authentic setting” and describing Qamata’s performance as gripping.
Following screenings in Kinshasa and London, the film now returns to South Africa carrying strong international momentum and recognition, with its Women’s Month screenings offering local audiences an opportunity to engage with a story centred on resilience, healing and the strength of women.
The partnership with Women For Change is expected to extend the conversation beyond the cinema, encouraging audiences to reflect on issues affecting women, including gender-based violence and femicide, while highlighting the importance of dignity, healing and empowerment.
Tickets will become available through Ster-Kinekor once sales open, with the official booking link set to be shared on the film’s official page and across Qamata’s social media platforms.
