In 2010, Silent Images made a short documentary film about her. Sports Outreach used this documentary to interest The Walt Disney Company in making a film about Mutesi's story, which came out in 2016.
Walt Disney Pictures optioned the rights to the book and began work on the film in 2012.
In 2013, she again played in the National Junior Chess Championship in Uganda and reached the finals against Lutaaya Shafiq of Makerere University. She won the Under 20 Girls Category but not the Open Category.
Mutesi represented Uganda at the 2014 41st Chess Olympiad and the 2016 42nd Chess Olympiad.
The 2016 film, Queen of Katwe, stars Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo. Mutesi is portrayed by Madina Nalwanga. Mutesi attended premieres of the film in Toronto, Canada (September 10), Hollywood, California (September 20), and Kampala, Uganda (October 1).
Phiona joined North West University's chess team in competing at the Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Tournament. This tournament was held in Columbus, Ohio, in December 2017. Phiona and her three team members secured the title of "Top Small College" for North West University. .