Movies that Matter: "The Woman Who Poked The Leopard" Movie Screening + Q&A

Join us for a special screening of The Woman Who Poked The Leopard at The Social Hub The Hague, curated by Movies That Matter. With an after-talk Q&A with the directors and activist.

During the after-talk Q&A, moderator Sofia Rojas together with director Patience Nitumwesiga and activist Stella Nyanzi will discuss the state of freedom of expression in Uganda, female representation in Ugandan politics and censorship & suppression of Yoweri Museveni’s political opposition.

This movie is nominated for the Activist Lens award (powered by The Social Hub).

Event Information:

Date: 23 March

Times:

Doors open - 19:00

Start movie - 19:15

Start Q&A - 21:05

End - 21:35

Location: Meeting Space 2+3 , The Social Hub The Hague, Hoefkade 9, 2526BN, Den Haag

Movie description:

An intimate portrait of Ugandan poet-academic Dr. Stella Nyanzi. Without apology or restraint, she defies state repression with bold acts of resistance. Through poetry, performance, and protest, Stella confronts dictatorship and patriarchy. Despite threats and imprisonment, she does everything to reclaim autonomy both for her nation and her own family.

It is a telling moment in The Woman Who Poked The Leopard, the thrilling documentary about Ugandan poet and academic Stella Nyanzi: at the start of her campaign for member of parliament, a reporter asks her if her bold language will not get in her way. ‘My language applies to many situations,’ she explains. When she needs to be peaceful, her language will be peaceful. ‘But,’ she adds fiercely, ‘when one needs a firm tongue that lashes and slashes and bashes, I have that tongue, honey…’

She certainly does. When Stella Nyanzi is feeling angry or disdainful, she will not hide it. A poem about Ugandan dictator Yoweri Museveni – in which she describes his mother’s vagina and states: ‘You should have died at birth’ – got her sentenced to Pr*son. But this did not stifle her in any way. The documentary follows her on the campaign trail through the neighborhoods of Kampala after her release from Pr*son. We see her tirelessly meeting people, debating opponents and campaigning against the corruption of the Museveni government, against poverty and unemployment, and for basic human rights. But while Nyanzi bravely defies a violent government crackdown of all opposition, the relationship with her three teenage children is getting increasingly strained.

Credits:

DIRECTOR - Patience Nitumwesiga

PRODUCER - Patience Nitumwesiga, Rosie Motene, Natalia Imaz, Phil Wilmot, Menzi Mhlongo

YEAR - 2025

COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION - United States, Germany, South Africa, Uganda

TYPE - Documentary

DURATION - 108 minutes

SPOKEN LANGUAGE - English, Local languages

SUBTITLES - EN

PRODUCTION COMPANY - Shagika

About Movies That Matter

Movies That Matter is an international film festival and year-round platform dedicated to films about human rights, social justice, and global issues. Through carefully curated screenings, in-depth discussions, and educational programs, the festival uses the power of cinema to spark dialogue, deepen understanding, and inspire social change. By bringing filmmakers, activists, and audiences together, Movies That Matter connects personal stories to global movements and encourages viewers to engage critically with the world around them.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Social Hub The Hague, 9 Hoefkade, Den Haag, Netherlands

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Get App