Published on October 14th, 2024 | by Jessica Williams

Amazon MGM Studios Ignites CultureCon™ with THE FIRE INSIDE

On Friday, October 4, 2024, Amazon MGM Studios lit up CultureCon™ Week with a special screening of the highly anticipated biographical drama, THE FIRE INSIDE, at New York City’s SVA Theatre. The event, titled “Fire Up Change: Black Women Lead the Way,” brought together an extraordinary gathering of Black creatives, entrepreneurs, tastemakers, and influencers. Celebrating the power of Black women, the evening featured a dynamic post-screening Q&A with the film’s star Ryan Destiny, and five-time undisputed world boxing champion Claressa Shields.

Hosted by award-winning media mogul Angela Yee, the discussion delved deep into the themes of perseverance, ambition, and breaking barriers in both entertainment and sports—perfectly aligned with the spirit of CultureCon™. The event underscored the strength and resilience of Black women as trailblazers in industries where they have historically been underrepresented.

THE FIRE INSIDE: Claressa Shields’ Inspirational Journey

Directed by Rachel Morrison and produced by Barry Jenkins, THE FIRE INSIDE follows the remarkable story of Claressa Shields, arguably the greatest female boxer of all time. The film captures her journey from being a high school junior in Flint, Michigan, to becoming the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing. Shields’ story goes beyond sports, tackling the complexities of balancing dreams, societal expectations, and the struggles that continue after success is achieved.

The film stars Ryan Destiny as Claressa Shields, with Brian Tyree Henry portraying her tough-love coach, Jason Crutchfield. The narrative captures the grit, determination, and obstacles Shields faced as she broke new ground in boxing and inspired generations to follow in her footsteps.

Empowering Black Women in Leadership

The CultureCon™ screening resonated deeply with an audience filled with multigenerational Black women who are paving their own paths in various fields. From creatives to professionals of color, the discussion between Ryan Destiny and Claressa Shields, moderated by Angela Yee, highlighted the barriers Black women in entertainment, sports, and culture have broken—and will continue to shatter. Shields shared personal anecdotes about her journey, while Destiny reflected on what it was like to portray such a powerful figure on-screen.

With the film set to release in theaters this Christmas, THE FIRE INSIDE promises to inspire audiences everywhere with its moving portrayal of overcoming adversity and the importance of representation in all spaces.