Young filmmaker's dream comes full circle with Keanu Reeves and a game of chess

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Friday, July 31, 2026 7:27PM
Young filmmaker's dream comes true with help from Keanu Reeves
A young filmmaker whose project was executive produced by Keanu Reeves celebrated with the actor in a major at the Chicano Hollywood Film Festival.

POMONA, Calif. (KABC) -- A young filmmaker whose project was executive produced by Keanu Reeves celebrated with the actor in a major way Thursday night during the Chicano Hollywood Film Festival in Pomona.

Filmmaker and chess player Bianca Mitchell stars in her documentary film "Madwoman's Game." She reached out to Reeves by emailing his manager when she was 16 - and he got on board!

Thursday night's screening marked the first time Mitchell and Reeves had met since the film was made. The pair - of course - celebrated the occasion with a game of chess.

"I'm just really grateful to be here after this amount of time, and that it actually happened," the "John Wick" star told ABC7.

"You made it happen," he told Mitchell.

Mitchell described the project as a long journey.

"It's six years in the making," she said. "It's kind of like a tribute to my 15-year-old self being like, 'Yes, you got it!"

Hit play in the video player above to watch the full interview with Reeves and Mitchell on Eyewitness News at 8 a.m.

To learn more, visit Chicano Hollywood Film Festival's website.

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