Jan 26, 2026
Apache’s Taylor Black provided color to Director Rory Kennedy’s “Queen of Chess,” premiering at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The Netflix film follows Hungarian chess prodigy Judit Polgár as she challenges the sport’s male dominated system over the course of her career, reshaping its culture to become one of the greatest chess players of all time.
“What made this project unique was stepping into a world I wasn’t deeply familiar with at first,” explains Taylor. “Learning about Judith Polgár’s career — and understanding the historical and cultural context of her rise — shaped how I approached the color work. The challenge was honoring archival material, contemporary footage, and emotionally charged moments while maintaining visual cohesion across very different eras and sources. The goal was always to support the story without imposing too much stylization, allowing the images to reinforce Judith’s presence, intelligence, and resolve rather than distract from them.”
For Taylor, the client collaboration was very engaging and detail-oriented. “Rory Kennedy, the Director, had a clear vision and a strong personal investment in telling Judith’s story accurately and respectfully,” he adds. “That meant the process was highly iterative, with a lot of discussion around tone, emphasis, and emotional clarity. Working in this way requires patience and openness, but it also ensures that every visual choice is intentional and aligned with the film’s core message.”
“Queen of Chess” will remain a memorable project for Taylor. “What stayed with me most was how unexpectedly powerful the story was,” he notes. “Judith Polgár’s career — especially her matches against Garry Kasparov at a time when he was widely regarded as untouchable — felt profoundly empowering. The film isn’t just about chess; it’s about challenging deeply ingrained assumptions and redefining what excellence looks like in a space that wasn’t built to include her. Being part of a project that brings that story to a wider audience was deeply meaningful.”
Apache Producer Luis Amaya agrees, “Queen of Chess” isn’t just about winning matches. “It’s about redefining what’s possible,” he concludes. “ Judit Polgár’s journey shows what can happen when a young girl refuses to accept the limits placed on her, and in doing so, opens the door for every young woman who dares to believe her brilliance belongs at the highest level. What made working on this film especially meaningful was witnessing her fall in love and seeing her fully as a human being — not just a chess master, but a woman whose life extends far beyond the board.”