The power goes off and the screen goes black: one of those innumerable moments of darkness when the buried memories from decades of conflict suddenly resurface. In the streets of Goma, children play at being news correspondents: Congo is preparing for its first democratic elections since 1960. Using a variety of sources, Sarah Vanagt collects elements from personal stories in a region torn apart by hatred and violence. Images and sound recordings taken by the children of Goma, TV news-clips and young soldiers’ accounts serve as her visual and audio material. Silent Elections is a documentary film on the memory and imagination of young Congolese on the eve of potential political change in their country.

CREDITS

Concept & realisation: Sarah Vanagt
Camera in D.R.Congo: Nyabwinja Daniel, Kobito Patrick Tonton, Chamatari Dodo with the support of CEPV (Centre d’Etudes et de Production Vidéographique), Goma, D.R.Congo
Editing: Inneke Van Waeyenberghe
Music: Hughes Marechal
Voices: Abdoul, Blaise

Produced by Balthasar vzw
in co-production with KUNSTENFESTIVALDESARTS, Desire Productions (Brussels), CEPV (Goma), Argos, KVS. Supported by : Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds (VAF)
Distribution: Argos Centre for Art & Media

Silent Elections is a single-screen version of the installation Power Cut.

More about Sarah Vanagt