CZFF Recipient: War Child
USA / Sudan / Kenya
2008 / Feature Documentary
Directed by: C. Karim Chrobog
War Child is the deftly crafted story of rising African hip-hop star Emmanuel Jal, who was conscripted in to the 20-year civil war in southern Sudan as a child. Jal is one of the tens of thousands of "lost boys" of the Sudan, forced to leave the country and ending up in at United Nations camp for Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia. There he joined the Sudanese People's Liberation Army, training to fight the Arab-dominated north right under the UN's watch, from which he and his friends eventually deserted, embarking on a long march to Kenya that few of the boys survived.
Jal is now a best-selling rap artist who uses his music to raise awareness about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan and the plight of child soldiers throughout the world. His ongoing work, and the craft that first-time filmmaker C. Karim Chrobog brings to telling his story in this film, are a testament to the vital role that culture plays in sustaining the human spirit. Cultures of Resistance was thrilled to support this film. The Conflict Zone Film Fund award went towards finishing and post-production costs, enabling the best version of the film to premiere worldwide at the Berlin and Tribeca Film Festivals.
