Best Documentary 2019 Winner

The Prophetess

Set in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), The Prophetess follows the powerful friendship of two Congolese women who, despite having both been raped, are more than victims. Through their friendship, the two find the strength to support each other and heal one another. The Prophetess steps away from the traditional documentary towards an aesthetically driven narrative short, referencing the canon of Congolese mythology and evoking the story of Kimpa Vita, a woman of The Kingdom of the Kongo who rejected colonial rule and employed her vision to inspire. Together with Kimpa Vita, the protagonists and their community of powerful females step into a new future; a future inspired by their ancestors; a future where all generations of women join together to shape a different world. As the Congolese proverb goes: No matter how long the night, the day is sure to come.