March 1, 2017
World Cinema Fund Africa
Internationale Filmfestspiele
Berlin
Postdamerstrasse 5
107 85 BERLIN
GERMANY
Re: CONGO: A MISSION IMPOSSIBLE?
Dear Friends at the WCF/Africa
Fund,
First of all, I would like to
express my sincere thanks for your allowing me to submit
CONGO: A MISSION IMPOSSIBLE? to
WCF Africa this year. I believe you have made
correct decision, for the
following reasons:
1.
After a century of suffering starting with the
genocide of King Leopold II and culminating in Africa’s World War, Congo has
made major strides towards recovery over the past two decades/ Now that
recovery is threatened by the refusal of President Joseph Kabila to obey the
Congolese constitution and step down after two terms as president. The
Congolese people do not want another Mobutu. Unfortunately, the new American
administration does not seem concerned with rule of law and human rights, and
there has even been talk of removing American regulations on conflict minerals
such as coltan. I believe it is essential to focus the international spotlight
on Congo now – before it is too late.
2.
On a personal note, I have spent 4 decades
making films about the developing world, and I have been constantly searching
for new ways to give people a voice. Prior to the digital revolution, the
economic obstacles were insurmountable, but my experience in Timor Leste in
2000 was a revelation. Unhappy with what I felt was a cover-up of the massive Indonesian
human rights violations , I quit the UN to make my own documentary, EAST TIMOR: BETRAYAL AND
RESURRECTION, which won a few prizes, and is now being distributed around the world by the East Timorese themselves. It is my
goal to do the same for Congo, where I had
a team of talented video professionals for 5 years, and also found a brilliant
Congolese video journalist – Horeb Bulambo – who is now the director of CONGO:
A MISSION IMPOSSIBLE? This will be the first time a filmmaker has been able to depict
the work of a UN mission in his own country, and that alone will be a significant cinematic and
cultural event – as well as an
interesting film.
Many thanks again for your kind consideration,
A luta continua,
Ted Folke
