Robert Mentov is a Russian-Canadian image maker currently based in Toronto. He has a focus on social realism and human issue stories in documentary and fiction genres. He began his career in filmmaking by documenting his friends skateboarding. From there he branched out into more formal genres of cinema. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting, but has found his life’s work in filmmaking.
About ‘Female Vigilante Boxers of Katanga‘ – words by Robert Mentov:
Katanga is photo series featuring the female boxers of Katanga, one of the largest slums in Uganda. It is shown from the perspective of Hellen Baleke, a young woman living in Katanga who turned to her local boxing gym after being assaulted and nearly raped in her own neighborhood. She went on to become the first female boxer in all of Uganda to compete professionally on an international level. Now Hellen and her group of female boxers act as protectors in Katanga, taking revenge on assaults in the slum when the police are too afraid to intervene.
