André Bauma cares for mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. During the M23 Rebellion in 2012, he and park rangers, including chief warden Emmanuel de Merode, confront threats from poachers and the British oil company SOCO International. Undercover footage reveals attempted bribery. The film, directed by Orlando von Einsiedel, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 17, 2014, shortly after de Merode survived an assassination attempt.

What Critics Say

IndieWire

Will Change Your Perspective on the Crisis in Congo.

Eric KohnRead full article

Deep Dive

Why Watch

Follow Emmanuel de Merode's fight against violence in Virunga.
See undercover footage of bribery attempts by SOCO International.
Meet the dedicated park rangers protecting endangered gorillas.

Did You Know

Virunga National Park is home to the world's last mountain gorillas.
Soco International officially began exploring oil opportunities in Virunga in April 2014.
Emmanuel de Merode was shot by unidentified gunmen on 15 April 2014.
The documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on 17 April 2014.
On 4 November 2015, Soco announced it no longer held a stake in the exploration license.

Perfect For

Wildlife conservationCongo's political historyEnvironmental activism

Read full Deep Dive →

Frequently Asked Questions

Who directed the documentary Virunga?

Virunga was directed by Orlando von Einsiedel.

When did Virunga have its world premiere?

Virunga premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on 17 April 2014.

What was the main focus of the documentary Virunga?

The documentary focuses on the conservation work of park rangers in Virunga National Park and the threats posed by war, poaching, and oil exploration.

Awards & Festivals

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Academy Awards

2015 • Official selection

Dokufest International Documentary and Short Film Festival

2015 • Official selection

Tribeca Film Festival

2014 • Official selection

Doxa Documentary Film Festival

2014 • Official selection

Awards & Festivals

Comments

What are people saying?

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