ABOUT HEART OF AFRICA

Heart of Africa is a cinematic breakthrough—the first Congolese-American co-production of a feature film, and one of the first produced and filmed entirely in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by a Congolese film team.

It has now achieved another first: It is the first Congolese feature film to be released in theaters in the United States!

A Revolutionary from the Congo and a Farm Boy from Idaho. Can they transcend their differences to help create a better world?

Directed by Tshoper Kabambi

Written by Margaret Blair Young and Tshoper Kabambi

Produced by Bruce Young, Margaret Blair Young, Tshoper Kabambi, Ephraim Faith Buyikana, and Deborah Basa

What is Heart of Africa?

The true “heart” of Africa is its wonderful, beautiful people and their courageous, enduring goodness. Heart of Africa is a film dedicated to sharing that heart with audiences. Based on the true story of a former revolutionary in the DR-Congo who became a missionary, it is a tale of self-discovery, brotherhood, and redemption. The Producers’ dream is to share a vision of the “heart of Africa” with the rest of the world and to bring cinema to the “heart of Africa” itself. When audience members in the DR-Congo see this film, it will be the first time most will have seen a film in an actual movie theater, and the first time many will have seen a movie of any kind.
We have now released Heart of Africa in theaters in the United States and are preparing to make it available worldwide through streaming and on DVD. We anticipate that as it reaches a wide audience, it will open the eyes–and hearts–of viewers to a part of the world that is on the brink of magnificent possibilities.

Why a film set in the Congo?

The Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”) is a country of stunning beauty and profoundly good people, but with serious challenges in finding its place in the world. Steeped in a history plagued by tribalism, national enmity, colonialism, and exploitation, Heart of Africa provides an authentic look at these issues, but more importantly offers hope.

Inspired by true events, the personal story of its main character seeking to understand his place in the world and choose his own path serves as proxy for a nation — he and people just like him are the “Heart of Africa.” The goal of this film is to advance understanding, storytelling, and the film industry throughout Africa, and especially throughout the DR-Congo. It is our hope that its success can help pave the way for many more high quality films from this part of the world that will engender a new era of progress, peace, humanitarian effort, and creative achievement.

Synopsis:

Gabriel Ngandu is a young Congolese revolutionary running from the terrible mistakes of his past. His journey of escape leads him to new experiences and even a new religion that challenges long-held beliefs about his destiny and the world around him. He finds himself torn between the influences and expectations of two very different father figures — Mwabila, his revolutionary leader, and President Kabasubabu, his new religious leader. Called to serve as a missionary, he is sent back to his native village to build an orphanage with Jason Martin, an American who also has a tragic and secret past. Together, they struggle to understand and overcome their histories, cultures, and prejudices to serve the people around them.

Caught between embracing enmity or reconciliation, revenge or forgiveness, intolerance or understanding, they begin to see the potential for a better, more peaceful future for themselves and for the Congo. Worlds finally collide when explosions rock the new orphanage and Kabasubabu is kidnapped by Mwabila’s revolutionaries. Gabriel is faced with choosing between the two different worlds of these father figures . . . or finding his own path toward a new world inspired by understanding and redemption.

Awards and accolades

Heart of Africa has been accepted by over a dozen film festivals worldwide. It has screened in Ghana at the Black Star International Film Festival, where it was a nominee in the “Africa Rising” category, and in Nigeria at the Abuja International Film Festival, where it was a winner of the “Golden Jury Award.” It has been designated as a Finalist at L’Age d’Or International Arthouse Film Festival and a nominee for the “Golden Dragon Award” at the Druk International Film Festival, both in India. The film has also received an Award of Merit in the Accolade Global Film Competition in two categories: Film Feature and Religion/Ethics.

In addition, Heart of Africa was an official selection at several other festivals, including the Green Mountain Christian Film Festival in Vermont (USA); the Benin City Film Festival in Nigeria; the Lake International Panafrican Film Festival in Kenya; the Malabo International Music & Film Festival in Equatorial Guinea; Red Lion: The South African International Film Festival; and the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.

Heart of Africa recently won major awards at several festivals: the Audience Choice Award at the LDS Film Festival in Utah (USA); Best Foreign Film at the Retro Avant Garde Film Festival – New York; and the Agape Award–the grand prize for the entire festival–at the Branson International Film Festival in Missouri (USA).

For more information on accolades, go to http://heartofafricafilm.com/accolades/

Who are the intended audiences?

Heart of Africa is a film intended for general audiences. To remain completely authentic, the dialogue is mainly in Lingala, one of the main languages of the Congo, with some French and English, and with English subtitles. In June 2019, even before final editing, a version of the film was shown to highly appreciative audiences at Brigham Young University and at the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts in New York City. Viewers consistently found the film powerful and moving and said they felt that, by the end of the film, they had had a profound and authentically African experience.

The African premiere of Heart of Africa took place in Kinshasa in February 2020. With grant money given to our project by the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts, we purchased a battery-powered projector and speakers so that films can be shown in the smallest villages in the Congo, which generally lack electricity.

The US premiere took place on March 11, 2020, followed by theatrical release on March 13th. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, movie theaters were closed throughout the United States on March 18th, abruptly ending our theatrical run. However, we were able to make the film available via streaming during the following two months. DVDs are scheduled to be available in July.

Ultimately, we hope to make the film available throughout Africa, Europe, and other parts of the world. This website will be updated with new information as it becomes available.

Why we want this film to succeed:

We made Heart of Africa for two main purposes: First, to generate funds for humanitarian work and aid, primarily in health and innovative education, in order to assist the people of Congo to become more self-reliant. Second, to help revitalize the film and cinema industry in the Congo. We want to empower the Congolese to share their own inspiring stories as part of our humanitarian endeavors. (Some of our filming this past summer was in one of the poorest villages in the country, called Lowo. We plan to create a simple cinema to show this and other films in Lowo and have that cinema also be used as a school.)

We started with a project in the DRC because for the last several decades film has been dead there. There are virtually no movie theaters, and very few films have been produced in the country, apart from a few by outsiders or expatriates.

We are partnering in this effort with our director, Tshoper Kabambi, who has become a pioneer in the revival of film in his native country, holding an annual international film festival in Kinshasa, and sponsoring film nights and workshops for young filmmakers–free of charge. In helping his team at Bimpa Production, we are helping Tshoper train, employ, and encourage a new generation of filmmakers.

Both by its message and by example, Heart of Africa will inspire and enable many other filmmakers like Tshoper to continue making quality, compelling films, to provide training and work opportunities, and even to help build small cinemas throughout the country. Success in the Congo will inspire similar efforts in other parts of Africa.

How you can help:

With the help of donations and personal funds, we were able to complete production and post-production of the film and prepare it for release in movie theaters in the United States. Further funds were expended for marketing and distribution. As we continue efforts to make the film available through streaming and DVD and through theatrical release in other parts of the world, we continue to seek donations and investment. We invite all who would like to support Heart of Africa through donations to help us reach the goal of $120,000 needed for these efforts.

You can also help us by spreading the word and by purchasing the film on DVD or through a streaming platform when these becoming available.

For ways to donate, click on the “View Donation Methods” button below. Rewards for certain levels of donations are listed on the “Donate” page.

Our sponsors:

Bimpa Production: A group of pioneering filmmakers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including Tshoper Kabambi, the director and co-writer of Heart of Africa. For more information, see https://www.facebook.com/bimpaprod/.

Congo Rising Corporation: A tax-exempt (501c3) organization focused on humanitarian endeavors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For more information, see https://www.congorising.org.

Heart of Africa LLC: With the help of investors and other partners, “Heart of Africa LLC” seeks to promote the emerging film industry and other businesses in Africa, with the aim of “lifting hearts and empowering hands” as Africans establish self-sustaining enterprises. Individuals interested in helping or investing should contact Bruce Young at bruce.young.in.provo@gmail.com.

Links and other information:

Below you’ll find links to information related to the film and its background.

Meridian Magazine articles (a series telling the real-life story that inspired Heart of Africa):

Thank you for your help with this groundbreaking film.

Heart of Africa is sponsored by Bimpa Production, Heart of Africa LLC, and Congo Rising Corporation