“Stop Filming Us” is a story about young artists in Goma fighting against the prevailing Western reporting on war and misery, the film investigates to what extent Western stereotyping is the result of a skewed balance of power. Cinematic dialogue between Western conceptions and the Congolese perception of reality.
When a white filmmaker travels to Africa to document the people of Goma, the conversation of misrepresentation, racism and the white savior complex emerges. In America, there’s always been a negative depiction of Africa and its people. Sad, poor, and poverty-stricken images of black children naked in the streets crying for food have stuck in the minds of most as commercials like Feed The Children constantly flash across our televisions. Three African Artists struggle with the negative residuals of colonization while trying to create an image of the beauty most don’t see.
This film explores very uncomfortable topics regarding racism, accountability, and who has the right to tell their own stories. With open dialogue, both Africans and white filmmakers discover their own accountability that perpetuates negative images surrounding Goma. Hopefully, what they learn will spark change in how they view themselves and each other.
Premiering at the Film Forum in NYC Friday, May 14th
