Kinshasa, the capital city of 17 million people, is plunged into darkness and insecurity as its inhabitants struggle to access the light. In a relentless quest, Kudi mobilizes the people of his neighborhood, Kisenso, to buy the stolen cable so that electricity can be restored in time for the festivities. At Christmas, Kudi turns into Santa Claus. Flashes of light and hope illuminate the streets of Kinshasa.On Mount Mangengenge, a sacred site, Pastor Gédéon preaches the light of Christ as the way to faith and light. Meanwhile, young Davido is looking for shelter after his house was flooded by the Congo River. He kills time by working out and waiting for the river to recede from his neighborhood. Between hope and religious faith, Tongo Saa is a subtle, fragmented portrait of a population that, despite the challenges, is reinventing itself in an environment marked by violence, coloured by the uncertainty of tomorrow and immersed in the beauty of Kinshasa's nights.

CREDITS

Directed by Nelson Makengo

Assistant director: Isaac Sahani Dati Director of photography: Nelson Makengo Sound recording: Moisi Wezam Image editing: Inneke Van Waeyenberghe Sound editing: Laszlo Umbreit Sound design: Franck Moka Sound mixing: Rémi Gérard Color grading: Miléna Trivier Music composers: Bao Sissoko, Wouter Vandenabeele

Producers: Rosa Spaliviero, Dada Kahindo Siku

Production management: Rosa Spaliviero, Juliette Hourçourigaray, Isaac Sahani Dato, Hélène Ballis

Produced by Twenty Nine Studio & Production (BE), Mutotu Productions (DRC) Co-produced by Film Five: Florian Schewe (DE), Diam Production: Michel K. Zongo (BF), Auguste Orts: Marie Logie (BE), Magellan Films: Samuel Feller (BE), RTBF: Isabelle Christiaens (BE)

With the support of: SCAM - Brouillon d'un rêve et La Culture avec la Copie privée The Atlas Workshops - Marrakech International Film Festival Fonds Image de la Francophonie Fonds Jeune Création Francophone IDFA Bertha Fund Europe supported by Creative Europe MEDIA program Berlinale World Cinema Fund ACP, the contribution of the European Union and the organization of ACP States Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program with support from Open Society Foundations Just Films | Ford Foundation Hot lce Docs Fund Film and Audiovisual Center of Wallonia Brussels Federation Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF) The Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government Doha Film Institute

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