During one intense week, director Milo Rau and his team toured the Democratic Republic of Congo for previews of his film „The Congo Tribunal“ paired with additional symposia. Five Locations, five screenings and a lot emotional discussions were accompanied by Chief Investigator Sylvestre Bisimwa, jury member Colette Braeckmann, further protagonists and local guests. All presentations were packed and several attending experts praised the project as a „model“ for real tribunals in order to end impunity and start a process of reconciliation in the country, which is troubled by twenty years of civil war leaving 6 million people dead.

In front of 1500 spectators, the tour started with a preview of the film in the location, where “The Congo Tribunal” took place in 2015: The screening and the following symposia at Collège Alfajiri in Bukavu was attended by Gabriel Kalonda, the Deputy Governor of the province of South Kivu, Vital Kamerhe, the presidential candidate of the oppositional UDP and other experts and representatives of the region. For another screening in the village of Mushinga, hundreds of peasants and artisanal miners who are directly affected by the concession of the Canadian mining company BANRO and the consequential expulsions and conflicts, attended the screening.

The discussions after the screenings seemed to be an outlet for the audience to express their problems, worries and sacrifices during the last years. The audience also expressed their hope that the artistic project by Milo Rau will have a judicial follow up in form of “real” tribunals in the country. After a third screening in the rebel town Walungu, the team returned to Bukavu where they were invited to screen the film in the world famous Panzi Hospital of Dr. Denis Mukwege. Due to the huge interest the screening raised, it had to be moved to a nearby church, where 3000 spectators attended the preview. In the discussion after the screening, Mr. Mukwege praised the film as a “important and priceless contribution to our country”.

Director Milo Rau was deeply touched by the reactions to his film: “I was a bit afraid to show the film to its protagonists, since a 100minute version of a tribunal which lasted for several days always means a harsh reduction of events. I am relieved that the people reacted thoroughly positive”. Maitre Sylvestre Bisimwa, the Congolese lawyer who performed as a prosecutor in the “Congo Tribunal”, proposed this idea and asked the filmmakers to provide him with a Swahili version of the film as soon as possible in order to organize local screenings and discussions as a preparation for local tribunals. Fruitmarket CEO and producer Arne Birkenstock added that he wants to provide the country with Swahili-versions of the film as soon as possible. Birkenstock, being a documentary director himself, added: “It is quite rare that documentary filmmakers not only describe reality but also manage to change it to the better. We will do our best to support Mr. Bisimwa in his effort to put up real tribunals throughout the country.”