Elephant’s Dream

Synopsis

Elephant’s Dream is a portrait about three State-owned institutions and their workers in DR Congo. The interwoven stories of a female post office clerk in the dilapidated central post office, two colleagues at the railway station, and the group of firemen in the only fire station provide insight into their daily lives and survival in the third largest city of Africa, Kinshasa. Although these three government-owned institutions are running on their last legs, the film allows for a surprisingly poetic and empathetic look at a State in decline. Yet, it also makes us witness the small but apparent moments of change and revolution, and at the same time functioning as a mirror to what is happening in the Western world.

Director Biography

Kristof Bilsen (director/DOP/producer) completed a filmmaking BA in Brussels (2002). He also works as cinematographer, editor and director for the performing arts.
His first film Three Women (about female detainees in a Belgian prison) was shortlisted for the Henri Storck Prize and shown twice on Belgian National Television. He finished his Masters at the National Film and Television School (UK) and attended the Werner Herzog Film Course in LA.
His work screened at more then 50 festivals worldwide (IDFA, DOK Leipzig, Hot Docs, Margaret Mead, Thessaloniki, a.o.) and won several awards, such as the Nanook/Jean Rouch Grand Prize in Paris and the TRT 2nd Best Documentary prize in Istanbul and Magic Hour Award in Warsaw. Along with his film practice, he is one of the 8 founding members of Kitchen Sink collective and also runs his boutique company Limerick Films.