From War to Possibility: Goma Documentary

This spring has marked two significant milestones for NDEGE, and we are excited to share them with you, the supporters whose generosity has made this important initiative possible.

In April, we were invited to participate in the VdR–Industry programme at Visions du Réel in Nyon, Switzerland, one of the world’s most respected international documentary film festivals. The Industry programme brings together filmmakers, producers, and distributors in a structured environment designed to help documentary projects move forward through pitch sessions, one-to-one meetings, and conversations about the future of documentary storytelling and the audiences these films can reach.

For NDEGE, being part of that space was deeply significant. It gave us the opportunity to speak directly with people who have the ability to bring this film to wider international audiences. What became clear throughout these conversations is that a project like NDEGE requires more than a compelling pitch. It requires people to truly understand its origins including the city of Goma, the conflict that continues to shape everyday life there, and the experiences of the six young apprentices at the heart of the film.

The one-to-one format that VdR–Industry makes possible proved invaluable because it created room for those deeper conversations. We left the festival with meaningful new relationships, a clearer understanding of how to position the film, and important next steps for its future development.

Before any wider audience or distributor sees it, the people most deserving of a first look at NDEGE were the apprentices themselves and the team at Remember Youth for Change. In April, we held a private screening in Goma and afterwards spoke with the apprentices about what they had seen, how the experience made them feel, and what they hoped the film might achieve in the world.

Their responses moved us deeply.

Almost all described an immediate rush of emotion watching themselves on screen including pride, joy, and, in several cases, a renewed sense of hope. They also shared that the film had motivated them and encouraged them to keep going, something especially meaningful given the continuing difficulties of life in Goma.

Several reflected on how much has changed since filming began: the ongoing weight of conflict, the challenges of sustaining their trades and livelihoods, and the uncertainty that continues to shape daily life. Yet many also described something changing within themselves which is a growing confidence and a new way of seeing both their future and their own potential.

When asked who should see the film, their answers were generous and outward-looking. They spoke about young people, local authorities, organisations, and anyone unfamiliar with the realities of Goma who might come to better understand life there through the film.

And when asked what they would film today if given a camera again, their answers revealed just how much remains untold: the stories of young women whose ambitions have been disrupted by war, the resilience of their neighbourhoods, and the quiet strength people continue to build despite everything around them.

All six also spoke warmly about the experience of making the film itself. The strangeness of carrying cameras through the city, the neighbours who joked with them or sometimes grew suspicious, and the genuine sense of family that developed between the apprentices and the crew along the way.

That screening reminded us why we do this work. Knowing that seeing themselves on screen gave them back something... hope, pride, confidence, even moments of joy, which is the foundation upon which everything else is built.

Looking ahead, our focus at BBS is moving forward on several fronts at once. We are continuing to edit NDEGE, incorporating the insights and feedback that emerged from Visions du Réel.

At the same time, we remain deeply committed to the creative development of the apprentices. Our longer-term vision is to establish a small atelier in Goma where they can continue developing technical skills, explore new creative ideas, and build something that is genuinely their own. It is an ambitious goal, and one we cannot realise without your continued support.

One meaningful way you can continue supporting NDEGE is by sharing our GlobalGiving page with anyone who may be interested in contributing to the project and helping us carry this work forward.

Creating NDEGE has been an incredible learning experience for everyone involved in making the film. It has been a worthwhile journey, especially after hearing from the apprentices about what this project means to them.

Thank you again for your continued belief in and support of this project, and for being part of this journey.