Friends of the Congo – Congo in Harlem Weekend Finale

Friday, October 22nd 7:30
PM
Benda Bilili!
Dir. Renaud Barret and
Flaurent De La Tullaye, 2010, 85 min.
Courtesy of National Geographic
Entertainment
From the gritty slums of Kinshasa to packed concert halls in
Europe, Benda Bilili! charts the improbable transformation of five paraplegics
and a virtuoso street-kid into a global music phenomenon. Their band, Staff
Benda Bilili ("Look Beyond Appearances") is living proof that against all odds,
dreams can become reality.

Reception featuring live Congolese music by Isaac Katalay
Click
here to purchase tickets!

Saturday, October 22nd 2:00
PM
**Special Riverside Church Screening***
Presented by Friends
of the Congo
Location:
Room 9T, Riverside Church New York City
490
Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10027

Crisis in the Congo: Uncovering the Truth
Friends of the Congo,
2011, 26min.
A sneak peak at a short version of the forthcoming film Crisis
in the Congo: Uncovering The Truth, which will explore the role that the United
States, Rwanda, and Uganda have played in Congo's ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The film unveils analysis and prescriptions from leading experts, practitioners,
activists, and intellectuals, locating the Congo crisis in a historical, social,
and political context.

Panel discussion and reception with Congolese food. This screening is
free and open to the public

Saturday Evening: 7:30
PM
Viva Riva!
Dir. Djo Munga, 2011, 96 min.

Courtesy of Music Box Films
Riva is a small time operator who has just
returned to Kinshasa with a fortune in hijacked petrol. With wads of cash and
out for a good time, Riva is soon entranced by a beautiful nightclub siren, who
also happens to be the kept woman of a local gangster. Into the mix comes Riva's
Angolan crime-lord ex-boss, who is after his stolen fuel. Director Djo Munga's
high-octane thriller is the first major action film shot in Kinshasa in nearly
two decades, and landmark film in Congolese cinema.

Discussion with director Djo Munga + Reception with Congolese food
Click
here to purchase tickets!

Sunday, October 23rd 3:00
PM
Youth Power: From Cairo to Congo
Using the
North African revolution as a starting point, this panel will explore the
Congolese youth movement, and its potential impact on the upcoming elections as
young Congolese strive to have greater say in the future of their
country.
Panelists:
Jimmie Briggs, Journalist, author,
and founder of the Man-Up campaign
Nathaniel Houghton, Founder and CEO of
Congo Leadership Initiative
Priscillia Kounkou-Hoveyda, Co-Founder of
NowAfriCAN
Kambale Musavuli, Activist and student coordinator for Friends of
the Congo

Panel Preceded by:
Building Beyond Conflict: Inspiring Congolese Kids For
A Brighter Future
Click
here to purchase tickets!

Sunday Evening 7:00 PM
Papy
(Mon Histoire)
Dir. Djo Munga, 2007, 53 min.
When Papy, a policeman
living in Kinshasa, discovers that he has AIDS his life begins to spin out of
control. His wife abandons him, leaving him to care for their two children, and
he is even rejected by his own sister. In order to get treatment, he must have a
family member serve as a confidant, but with nobody to turn to, what will Papy
do? Based on a true story, Papy is hard-hitting drama that ultimately inspires a
message of hope.

Discussion with director Djo Munga + closing night reception featuring
Congolese music by Isaac Katalay
Click
here to purchase tickets!

Thank you for supporting Congo in Harlem
III and Congo
Week IV. We
encourage you to continue to support the work of Friends of the Congo. It is
through your support that we are able to raise global consciousness about the
challenge of the Congo and provide assistance to our partners on the
ground.

Friends of the
Congo