Virunga

VIRUNGA IS THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF A GROUP OF BRAVE PEOPLE RISKING THEIR LIVES TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE IN A PART OF AFRICA THE WORLD HAS FORGOTTEN AND A GRIPPING EXPOSE OF THE REALITIES OF LIFE IN THE CONGO. In the forested depths of eastern Congo lies Virunga National Park, one of the most bio-diverse places in the world and home to the last of the mountain gorillas. In this wild, but enchanted environment, a small and embattled team of park rangers - including an ex-child soldier turned ranger, a carer of orphan gorillas and a Belgian conservationist - protect this UNESCO world heritage site from armed militia, poachers and the dark forces struggling to control Congo's rich natural resources. When the newly formed M23 rebel group declares war in May 2012, a new conflict threatens the lives and stability of everyone and everything they've worked so hard to protect. www.virungamovie.com Director: Orlando von Einsiedel Producers: Joanna Natasegara & Orlando von Einsiedel Editor: Masahiro Hirakubo Cinematography: Franklin Dow & Orlando von Einsiedel Composer: Patrick Jonsson Assistant Producer: Patrick Vernon Executive Producers: Adam Del Deo, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jon Drever, Maxyne Franklin, Howard G. Buffett (CEO Howard G. Buffett Foundation), Lisa Nishimura & Jess Search A Netflix Documentary Presented by: Bertha Foundation, BRITDOC Foundation and Violet Films A Grain Media film www.grainmedia.co.uk

---

SYNOPSIS

In the forested depths of eastern Congo lies Virunga National Park, one of the most bio-diverse places on Earth and home to the planet’s last remaining mountain gorillas. In this wild, but enchanted environment, a small and embattled team of park rangers – including an ex-child soldier turned ranger, a caretaker of orphan gorillas and a dedicated conservationist who’s a member of the Belgian royal family – protect this UNESCO world heritage site from armed militia, poachers and the dark forces struggling to control Congo’s rich natural resources. When the newly formed M23 rebel group declares war, a new conflict threatens the lives and stability of everyone and everything they’ve worked so hard to protect, with the filmmakers and the film’s participants caught in the crossfire.

Action Steps

WAYS YOU CAN REACT TO FILM

1. SPREAD THE WORD about how the film and the park inspired you by using the hashtags on social media #Virunga #TeamVirunga.

2. DONATE or raise funds for the Virunga National Park to keep it in operation and to support it’s brave rangers.

3. CHECK YOUR INVESTMENTS as you may be surprised to find out your investments could be funding SOCO International. Ensure that your dollars are funding positive initiatives.

“Virunga National Park has become the battleground in a new conflict, as conservationsists fight off the advances of rebel militias, poachers and a powerful oil company”

— Martin Fletcher, The Telegraph

“This is muckraking journalism that moves confidently with the brio of an action thriller.”

— Kenji Fujishima, Slant Magazine

Teach our Curriculum!