Democratic Republic of the Congo

IFFR 2025 Review: “The Tree of Authenticity”

IFFR Sammy Baloji’s The Tree of Authenticity is an experimental and multi-layered essay film that seeks to explore Belgian colonialism in the Congo, connecting historical records to personal memory and environmental discourse.

Berlinale 2024 Review: “Rising Up at Night”

This work by Nelson Makengo, is an overwhelmingly evocative documentary that delves into the stark realities of life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly focusing on the struggles faced by residents in Kinshasa amid frequent power outages and devastating floods. Makengo depicts the struggle of his subjects that is as much about the physical darkness brought on by the lack of electricity as it is about the metaphorical darkness of living in a disaster-stricken area.