Congo Calling

by Stephan Hilpert
  • 2019
  • 2019
  • 2019
  • 2019
  • 2019
  • 2019
  • 2019
  • 2019

    Synopsis

    In crisis-ridden eastern Congo, one of the poorest regions on earth, three Europeans are forced to question what it means to help. Raul, a French-Spanish economist, realizes that his project funds are leading his Congolese colleagues into great temptation. Peter, from Germany, is fighting a losing battle to preserve his identity as an aid worker when he reaches retirement age after 30 years in Africa. And the relationship of the young Belgian Anne-Laure is put to the test when her Congolese boyfriend, after a stay in prison, becomes a high-profile regime critic. Deeply personal insights into coexistence and cooperation between Europe and Africa – and the question: how helpful is the help of the West?

    Festivals

    2019
    Audience Award – 40 FF Max Ophüls Preis
    Best Cinematography Documentary – Filmkunstfest MV Schwerin
    FFF Bayern Documentary Talent Award - 34 DOK.fest Munich
    nominated for German Documentary Award 2019 - SWR DOKU FESTIVAL
    Ciné Droit Libre, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
    Fünf Seen Filmfestival
    Kinofest Lünen
    Achtung Berlin - New Berlin Film Award
    dokKa Karlsruhe
    Kolkata International Film Festival
    London Migration Film Festival

    2020
    Africa Alive Festival Frankfurt
    Boddinale Berlin
    Int. Festival of Ethnological Film, Belgrade
    German International Ethnographic Film Festival, Germany
    Liberation Docfest Bangladesh, Bangladesh
    Africlap, Frankreich
    Bolivia International Film Festival of Human Rights, Bolivia
    APOX Film Festival, Croatia
    Int. Festival of Ethnological Film, Serbia
    Congo in Harlem, USA
    Int. Film Festival Etnofilm, Slovakia
    Arica Nativa, Chile
    Festival Int. de Cinéma de Kinshasa, Demokratic Republic of the Congo
    Fiorenzo Serra Film Festival, Italy