Congo Boy
Bangui, Central African Republic. 17 year-old Robert dreams of a career in music, but civil war is tearing the country apart. When both his parents are thrown into prison, he is left to look after his four younger siblings on his own, juggling daily life, odd jobs, school exams and concert stages, determined to follow his dream.
Festivals & awards
Cannes 2026, Un Certain Regard: Meilleur Acteur
Locarno Film Festival: Piazza Grande
Biarritz Film Festival, Nouvelle Vagues: Best Performance Award & Audience Award
Hamburg Film Festival: Albert Wiederspiel Award
Pingyao International Film Festival: Best Film, Roberto Rossellini Awards
Rome Film Fest: Best Director & Terna Audience Award
Sarajevo Film Festival: Best Feature Film & TeenArena Award
Festival Cine Francés Malaga: Young Jury Award & Best Performance
Festival du Film Francophone d’Angoulême: Valois de la musique de film
Chicago International Film Festival
Marrakech International Film Festival
Credits
In cinemas
Chexbres
La Chaux-de-Fonds
Lugano
Meiringen
Uster
Pro Material
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Press voices
«Ce récit, jamais misérabiliste, est porté par le charisme de Bradley Fiomona Dembeasset, casté dans un lycée centrafricain.» Le Monde
«Das zentralafrikanische Coming-of-Age bringt musikalische Energie und einen mitreissenden Hauptdarsteller, der alle Facetten meistert, die seine Rolle verlangt.» Outnow, Roland Meier
«Musik bildet das Herzstück dieses berührenden Films […] Dank eingängiger Beats, detaillierter Einblicke in das Leben in Bangui und einem charismatischen Hauptdarsteller gelingt es dem Film, an unsere Menschlichkeit zu appellieren – und Vorurteile gegenüber Geflüchteten zu entkräften.» Amnesty Magazin, Natalie Wenger
«Geformt von Warmherzigkeit und Wahrhaftigkeit.» Movie Break
«A warm, humane portrait of survival ... Gentle humanism and bursts of crowd-pleasing energy.» Screen Daily
«It has the panache to be a genuine crowd-pleaser ... An on-the-ground authenticity and visual vibrancy ... Always uplifts the audience towards optimism.» Cineuropa
«A stirring musical drama that beats with the rhythms of resilience.» Variety
«It’s impossible to listen to his songs and not move to the rhythm ... Director Rafiki Fariala shows a clear gift for crafting an engrossing story, bringing an excitingly new approach to an oft-told tale.» Next Best Picture
«Congo Boy brings something fresh to the genre.» International Cinephile Society