Of Mud and Blood

Numbi, a small village hidden in the heart of the mountains of the Congo DRC. Here, with bare hands, miners extract coltan, which will find its way - legally or not - to our industrialized world. For decades, this grey gold, essential for the manufacture of modern technological devices, has been the source of conflicts and ruthless exploitation. By sharing their lives and intimacy, Of Blood and Mud documents the daily existence of the inhabitants of Numbi. Revealing their ordeals and their illusory hope of escaping their fate and one day benefiting from the riches of Congo.

An immersive journey that reveals the flip side of our digital comfort: a world where some bury their dreams in the mud so that we can stay connected to ours.

Cinema released in France in 2025, Sweden in 2026, Germany in 2026 and more to be coming...

The film has received the Avance sur Recettes at the French CNC.

Produced by Valdès, Pallas Films, NDR, Nonsense Prod, Arte Cinema distributed by Next Film, RushLake, Goodfellas.

Winner of Best International Documentary at Durban DIFF (Oscar Qualifying Price)

Winner of the Jury Price at Rennes-Le-Château FIFI

Winner of the Social Impact Award at London AWBFF

Winner Silver Gentiane For Best Artistic and Technical Achievement Trento

Winner Human Right Award Trento

Winner Étoile de la SCAM 2025 awarded by the French Film Authors Society

Winner Diable d'Or at FIFALP Switzerland

Nominee at Cinema For Peace Dove Award in Berlin

(among Cannes, Sundance, Golden Globes winners and 6 Oscars Nominee Films)

Opening night film at Toronto TBBF and Vancouver VBFF

Selected at Biarritz FIPADOC, TIFF, London FA, Montreal MBFF, Acadie FICFA, Vancouver VBFF, Halifax HBFF, Lumières d'Afrique, Lagos AFRIFF, London AWBFF, Geneve FIFDH, Prague, HRFF Amnesty International...

Pictures i took during the preparation of the film

Cinematograper CV

jgleynaud@gmail.com