Over six bloody days in June 2000, the Congolese city of Kisangani was the scene of deadly violence between the Ugandan and Rwandan armies. More than 10,000 shells exploded, killing thousands and injuring thousands more.
Since then, victims of the Six-Day War have fought for recognition and compensation. Uganda has been found guilty of war crimes by the International Court of Justice, but the victims remain uncompensated decades later.
Now, they decide to take matters into their own hands. In the first Congolese film to be an official selection at the Cannes Film Festival, acclaimed director Dieudo Hamadi (Mama Colonel, National Diploma, Ladies in Waiting) captures their long journey down the Congo River to voice their claims in capital city of Kinshasa, seeking justice at last.
“Intense, urgent, and shocking... A film few have yet seen in theaters, to our considerable detriment.” —Eric Hynes, Reverse Shot
“Downstream proves Hamadi a significant voice in humanist, activist filmmaking, as well as an emerging figure of note telling African stories from perspectives rooted in the communities from which they hail.” —Pat Mullen, POV Magazine
“A documentary about Sisyphean persistence in the face of institutional indifference, “Downstream to Kinshasa” is riveting.” —Devika Girish, The New York Times
Academy Awards, National Submission of the Democratic Republic of Congo 2020
Golden Dove Prize and Jury Prize, Dok Leipzig Documentary Festival 2020
Special Mention, Toronto International Film Festival 2020
Best Documentary, Amiens International Film Festival 2020
International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) 2020
Cannes Film Festival 2020
Doc Lisboa Documentary Film Festival 2020