A Story of Resistance and Resilience
A Ugandan documentary titledThe Woman Who Poked the Leopardhas captured international attention by winning two awards at the 2025 International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film. The film showcases the life and activism of Stella Nyanzi, a feminist scholar and political dissident who now lives in exile in Germany. It offers an intimate portrayal of her journey through political oppression, personal loss, and unwavering resistance.
Exploring the Life of a Political Dissident
The documentary delves into Nyanzi’s life, revealing the complexities of her personal and political experiences. It highlights the toll that her activism has taken on her family, the challenges of living in exile, and the physical and emotional wounds she has endured. The film also presents an existential view of her life, filled with loss, while simultaneously offering a political critique of the brutal regime led by President Yoweri Museveni.
The narrative follows key moments in Nyanzi’s life, including her act of disrobing at Makerere University and in court, her poem criticizing the dictator that led to her imprisonment, and her subsequent failed parliamentary campaign in Kampala. The film also depicts the violence inflicted upon her and her family by state actors and ultimately her decision to seek refuge in Munich, Germany.
A Verité-Style Film with a Powerful Message
Directed by Patience Nitumwesiga, the verité-style film captures Nyanzi’s resilience and courage. Despite the constant threat to her life, she uses radical rudeness, provocative poetry, and traditional forms of resistance such as nudity to challenge oppression. Her use of performance, protest, and poetry becomes a powerful tool to fight against both state repression and gender-based injustice.
Recognition and Impact
The film was presented at the 68th edition of DOK Leipzig, held from October 27 to November 2, 2025, at the Schaubühne Lindenfels in Leipzig, Germany. It received two prestigious awards: the ver.di-Prize for Solidarity, Humanity and Fairness (2,000 €) and the DEFA Sponsoring Prize (4,000 €).
Rosie Motene, the producer and impact producer of the film, shared her thoughts on the significance of these awards. She noted that the film’s world premiere at a festival with a long history of showcasing political films was a major achievement. “We were the only film at the festival this year that got awarded twice,” she said.
Motene emphasized the importance of the ver.di award, stating that it was an honor for the film to be recognized by one of Germany’s largest trade unions. “This means that the workers were the first to award the film and none of us could have ever anticipated this,” she added.
Public Reception and Future Plans
The film has been met with overwhelming public reception. Audiences in public spaces and cinemas have engaged deeply with the story. Motene expressed her satisfaction with the response, noting that viewers left feeling energized and inspired rather than depressed. “Even though the story has tragic parts, the strength of resistance and hope triumph over everything,” she said.
The film will soon have its international premiere at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), which takes place from November 13 to 23, 2025. It is selected for the front light section, and the team hopes that more people will see it and be inspired. Additionally, there are requests for the film to be released in German cinemas, and the team is working on finalizing a sales agent and preparing for cinema releases in Europe.
A Universal Story of Humanity
Through Nyanzi’s story,The Woman Who Poked the Leopardpaints a universal picture of humanity—its contradictions, its struggles, and its capacity for resistance. The film not only documents the life of a courageous woman but also serves as a reminder of the power of voice, autonomy, and justice.