“Catch the Fair One,” a thriller toplined by boxer Kali “K.O.” Reis, based on a story of her own creation, is on its way to theaters. According to Variety, IFC Films has acquired U.S. rights to the pic and plans to release it next year.

A Tribeca 2021 award-winner, “Catch the Fair One” follows Kaylee ‘K.O.’ Uppashaw (Reis), “a former boxer, as she discovers that her missing sister is possibly alive and circulating in a trafficking network. She plugs herself into this dark and dangerous world to find her, which tests her strength and determination,” the source summarizes. Reis came up with the story and worked with writer-director Josef Kubota Wladyka to develop her character. The film also draws “on her experiences as the first Indigenous fighter to win the International Boxing Association middleweight crown and the reigning WBA Super lightweight champion.”

“Catch the Fair One” debuted at Tribeca in June, where it won the Audience Award. Reis also earned a Special Jury mention for her performance.

The film’s producers include “Nomadland’s” Mollye Asher and “The Last Black Man in San Francisco’s” Kimberly Parker. Mynette Louie (“The Tale”) is among the exec producers.

“’Catch the Fair One’ plays like a beautifully-crafted thriller while shining much needed light on a sadly prevalent issue in North America – the trafficking of Indigenous women – and we were absolutely floored by Josef Kubota Wladyka’s handling of such emotional subject matter,” said Arianna Bocco, president of IFC Films. “We’re so glad we have the opportunity to usher in a new talent to the IFC family with Wladyka and the raw and brutally powerful performance from newcomer Kali Reis and to continue working with this amazing producing team.”

Other athlete-fronted projects on the way include “Knock Out Blonde,” a docuseries about trans boxing manager Kellie Maloney, and a biopic about Fallon Fox, the first openly trans MMA fighter.