Léonard Pongo

Tales From The Source

Tales from the Source

is a medium-length movie engaging a visual dialogue with the varied land of the DRC and its ancestral narratives.

It offers a gaze on the landscapes of the Democratic Republic of Congo to translate a sense of its unfathomable power, diversity and knowledge.
The scenery is presented as a character acting as a living entity and inhabited by the symbolism of Congolese traditions. The visual approach borrows techniques from multispectral imaging, resulting in an otherworldly experience with surreal lights and colour.
Combined with an original musical composition by Bear Bones, Lay Low, we enter into a sensory dialogue with the landscape, an intelligent, ageless being in constant transformation that challenges our perception.

HD video, color, 16:9, no language, 39’


Cinematography Léonard Pongo
Editing Fairuz Ghammam & Léonard Pongo
Sound editing & mixing Laszlo Umbreit at Empire Digital
Music Bear Bones, Lay Low
Sound recording Cedrick Mbongo Mbulu & Léonard Pongo
Grading Miléna Trivier
Facilities Cobalt
Graphic Design La Villa Hermosa
Production Auguste Orts & Twenty Nine Studio & Production

With the support of Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds, Centre du Cinéma et de l’Audiovisuel de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, kunstencentrum nona in the context of C0N10UR, Atelier Graphoui, AFRICALIA, Kristof De Clercq gallery, Black Rock Senegal & Parc National de l’Upemba ICCN-FPF

Tales From The Source Has shown in

2023

  • Cinéma Lumière Mechelen (Malines) – Belgium
    • Saturday, October 21, 2023 (17:00) – Avant-Première
    • Sunday, October 22, 2023 (14:00)
    • October 25-28, 2023 (14:00 daily screenings)
    • Part of the Biennale CON1OUR

2024

  • Ishango Encounter – Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
    • Saturday, June 22, 2024
  • Doclisboa (International Film Festival) – Lisbon, Portugal (International Premiere)
    • Tuesday, October 22, 2024 (21:45) at Culturgest – Pequeno Auditório
    • Friday, October 25, 2024 (14:00) at Culturgest – Pequeno Auditório
  • DOK Leipzig (Festival for Documentary and Animated Film) – Leipzig, Germany (German Premiere)
    • October 31 – November 2, 2024
    • International Competition Documentary Film section
  • Goldsmiths CCA (Centre for Contemporary Art) – London, UK
    • Thursday, November 28, 2024 (19:00-21:30)
    • Special screening alongside “Machini” and “Tongo Saa (Rising up at night)”

2025

  • Festival En Ville! – Brussels, Belgium
    • Friday, January 31, 2025
  • Festival du Jeu de Paume: Paysages Mouvants – Paris, France
    • February 7 – March 23, 2025
    • A commissioned installation version curated by Jeanne Mercier
  • BOZAR (Centre for Fine Arts) – Brussels, Belgium (Afropolitan Festival)
    • Saturday, March 1, 2025
    • Sunday, March 2, 2025 (17:30-18:40)
  • Cinema Lumière at FOMU – Antwerp, Belgium
    • Friday, March 14, 2025 (10:00-12:30)
    • Artist talk and film screening by Léonard Pongo
  • Academy of Arts – Vilnius, Lithuania
    • Friday, April 25, 2025
    • Screening & Talk alongside “Now, At Last!” by Ben Rivers and a talk by Anouk De Clercq
  • Cinéma Fen – Gabès, Tunisia
    • April 26 – May 1, 2025
    • Screening on Sunday, April 27, 2025 (17:30)
  • Art Brussels – Brussels, Belgium
    • April 2025
    • Part of “The Screen” program, represented by Kristof De Clercq gallery (Booth #5E-20)
    • Sunday, April 27, 2025 (17:30)
  • Kunstenfestivaldesarts – Beursschouwburg – Brussels, Belgium
    • Tuesday, May 13, 2025 (22:00)