“The Chebeya Affair, A State Crime?” is a political tragicomedy that is both the chronicle of an exceptional trial and a fascinating political thriller. After the macabre discovery of Floribert Chebeya’s body in Kinshasa, Thierry Michel set out with his camera to try to retrace the steps of this internationally known human rights activist. The deeply moving funeral was followed by impressive demonstrations demanding the truth about what quickly began to look like a political assassination. Due to strong international pressure, the trial started 5 months later. Thierry Michel filmed this extraordinary event where military officers judged chiefs of police. Denials, lies, forgeries, the disappearance of evidence… the trial laid bare all the stratagems the police officers had set in place to prevent the truth from getting out, camouflage their crimes, and protect those truly responsible. In the name of state interest? The issues dealt with in this film go well beyond the DRC and this particular case, and raise universal questions regarding the defense of human rights and impunity.
Production: Les Films de la Passerelle
Coproduction: RTBF
With the support of the Centre du cinéma de la Fédération Wallonie Bruxelles, FIDH, OMCT, OSISA, CBA, RTS, TV5, OIF, TaxShelter, PIL, EVS, Bruxelles Laïque, Carter Center, ASDI, DGD
2013:
Etoiles de la Scam, France, 2013
Magritte du Cinéma, Belgium, 2013
Festival Cinema Novo, Belgium, 03/13
Aljazeera International Documentary Film Festival, Quatar, 04/13
Festival des Libertés, Belgium, 11/13
2012:
Festival du Film et Forum International sur les Droits Humains de Genève, Switzerland, 03/12
Festival Itinérances à Alès, France, 03/12
Movies that Matter Festival, The Netherlands, 03/12
Festival 2 Valenciennes, France, 04/12
Vues d’Afrique, Canada, 03/12
Festival du Cinéma Africain, France, 05/12
Etonnants Voyageurs, France, 05/12
Festival International des Droits de l’Homme de Paris, France, 06/12
San Francisco Black Film Festival, USA, 06/12
FESTICAB, Burundi, 06/12
Ecrans Noirs, Cameroon, 07/12
Rwanda Film Festival, Rwanda, 07/12
Ciné Droit Libre, Burkina Faso, 07/12
Harlem Film Festival, USA, 09/12
Congo in Harlem, USA, 10/12
Festival International du Film d’Amiens, France, 11/12
Festival des Droits de l’Homme de Barcelone, Spain, 2012
Corona Cork Film Festival, Ireland, 11/12
Watch Docs IFF, Poland, 12/12
Human Screen Festival, Tunusia, 12/12
Festival 2 Valenciennes (France) – Grand Prix 2012
Festival International du Film sur les Droits de l’Homme de Paris (France) – Grand Prix 2012
Afrika Film Festival (Belgium) – Prix du Public 2012
De Groene Belgo Doc (Belgium) – Prix Maurice de Wilde 2012
Vues d’Afrique (Canada) – Mention Spéciale du Jury 2012
San Francisco Black Film Festival (USA) – Mention Honorable 2012
Human Screen Festival (Tunisia) – Mention Spéciale du Jury 2012
Etoile de la SCAM (France) – Etoile 2013
Le Parc (Charleroi)
Cinéscope (Louvain-la-Neuve)
Le Vendôme (Bruxelles)
Le Caméo (Namur)
Plaza Art (Mons)
Cinéma Sauvenière (Liège)
