ONU News
Brasília recebe última etapa do Cine Migração com oito filmes e atividades culturais
Coverage of the final Cine Migração programme, which included Libertai at Cine Brasília.
Independent documentary
Libertai
A documentary by Bill Szilagyi about art, politics, society and identity across the African continent, guided by the voice of Zambian artist Crawford Mandumbwa.
- 2019
- Documentary
- 19 minutes
- Botswana + South Africa
The film
A conversation about Africa led by someone who lives and creates on the continent
Crawford Mandumbwa is a Zambian artist based in Francistown, Botswana. In Libertai, he speaks about African politics, society, art and culture, while reflecting on the social vulnerabilities that affect different parts of the continent.
The film chooses to listen before it tries to explain. Crawford is not used as an illustration for a thesis created elsewhere. His experience as an artist, graphic designer, photographer and educator shapes the narrative and provides a personal perspective on survival, creativity and social change.
Filmed during an independent 25-day journey through Botswana and parts of South Africa in 2015, the short documentary was completed in 2019. It runs for 19 minutes, its original language is English, and Portuguese and Spanish subtitles are available.
19 minutes, original language English
Watch Libertai
Crawford Mandumbwa speaks openly about African politics, society, art and culture. By connecting his personal journey to the social challenges present across the continent, the artist reflects on identity, resilience and the transformative power of art.
The documentary follows this conversation without trying to reduce an entire continent to simple answers. The result is a short film about creativity, belonging and the ability to imagine possible futures.
Voice and perspective
Crawford Mandumbwa
Born in Zambia and based in Botswana, Crawford Mandumbwa works across painting, graphic design, photography, multimedia and 3D modelling. He has also taught visual arts and taken part in community art projects in and around Francistown.
His work draws on everyday life and on people’s ability to adapt, create and survive. This perspective guides Libertai. Rather than treating art simply as an object, the film approaches it as a language, a form of memory and a tool for transformation.
Recognition
Awards
Five awards recorded by the production.
- Best Solidarity Film: Cine Tornado Festival, Curitiba, 2019.
- Best Documentary: FICMA, 2019.
- First Place: Highway 61 Film Festival, 2020.
- Best Documentary: 8º Festival de Cinema Curta Pinhais, 2020.
- Best Documentary Screenplay: 8º Festival de Cinema Curta Pinhais, 2020.
Festival journey
Screenings and festivals
The laurels preserve a visual record of the film’s journey. The list makes that history accessible.
View the festival record in text
- Moscow Shorts International Short Film Festival: Russia, official selection, June 2019.
- Atlantic International Film Festival: Official selection, September 2019.
- Great Message International Film Festival: India, official selection, September 2019.
- Cine Jabó, Mostra de Cinema de Jaboticatubas: Selection, September 2019.
- Festival Internacional de Cine de Ponferrada: Spain, parallel sections, September 2019.
- Fight for Rights Film Festival: São Paulo, selection, October 2019.
- Festival Curta Campos do Jordão: São Paulo, official selection, October 2019.
- Visualis Film Festival: Russia, semifinalist, October 2019.
- Cine Tornado Festival: Curitiba, official selection, October 2019.
- Festival Santa Cruz de Cinema: Brazil, official selection, October 2019.
- Ethos Film Fest: Romania, official selection, November 2019.
- FRICINE, Festival Internacional de Cinema Socioambiental: Rio de Janeiro, official selection, November 2019.
- Festival de Cinema Estudantil de Guaíba: Rio Grande do Sul, November 2019.
- FICMA, Festival Internacional de Cine con Medios Alternativos: Official selection, November 2019.
- Cine Pojichá, Festival de Cinema dos Vales do Mucuri e Jequitinhonha: Minas Gerais, November 2019.
- Global Migration Film Festival: International official selection, November 2019.
- IntimaLente Film Festival: Italy, December 2019.
- Bayamón International Film Festival: Puerto Rico, February 2020.
- iREP International Documentary Film Festival: Nigeria, March 2020.
- Highway 61 Film Festival: United States, 2020.
- The BeBop Channel Content Festival: United States, June 2020.
- 8º Festival de Cinema Curta Pinhais: Brazil, 2020.
- Los Angeles CineFest: participation recorded by a laurel; year and category pending verification.
- Prisma Rome Independent Film Awards: participation recorded by a laurel; year and category pending verification.
- Festival de Cine Entre Largos y Cortos de Oriente: participation recorded by a laurel; year and category pending verification.
- Festival de Cinema de Pedra Azul: participation recorded by a laurel; year and category pending verification.
Press and festival circuit
Libertai in the press and festival publications
Eleven records preserve part of the film’s journey through showcases, festivals and press coverage.
The clippings below belong to the production archive. When an original address is no longer available, we identify an archived version, equivalent coverage or the unavailable link.
Agência Brasília
Cine Brasília exibe filmes sobre o drama das migrações
The original Agência Brasília link is no longer available. Equivalent coverage preserves the record of the screening.
Alfil
Golpes, caricias, migraciones
The clipping records Libertai at the Global Migration Film Festival. The original domain is unavailable.
Original link unavailable
Portal Gaz
Saiba mais sobre os filmes que serão exibidos nesta quarta
A presentation of films screened at the Santa Cruz Film Festival, preserved by the Internet Archive.
TV Zoom
8ª edição do Fricine começa nesta quarta-feira
Coverage of the eighth FRICINE edition, with Libertai among the films in the programme.
Nações Unidas Brasil
Brasília recebe última etapa do Cine Migração com oito filmes na programação e atividades culturais
A United Nations Brazil publication about the Cine Migração programme at Cine Brasília.
CineVitor
Conheça os filmes selecionados para o 3º Fest Cine Pedra Azul
A record of Libertai being selected for the third Fest Cine Pedra Azul.
FICNOVA
Libertai no Festival Internacional de Cine de la No-Violencia Activa
A dedicated film page in the FICNOVA official archive.
Cinema Escrito
1º FIC RIO (2020): selecionados e indicados
A record of Libertai among the selected and nominated films at the first FIC RIO.
O Mundo Diplomático
O Cine Brasília vai exibir uma mostra da produção do Festival Global de Filmes sobre Migração
Coverage of the Global Migration Film Festival showcase held at Cine Brasília.
Sesc/RS
Festival Santa Cruz de Cinema realiza mostra online até 12 de maio
An announcement for the Santa Cruz Film Festival online showcase, with Libertai in the selection.
Independent production
How Libertai was made
Libertai grew from an independent production. The team recorded images and interviews while travelling through Botswana and South Africa with a small crew and its own resources.
The cinematography keeps the environment and the people as active parts of the conversation. The edit structures Crawford’s account, while sound design, music and landscape support the film’s contemplative rhythm.
The work is also part of Dumela’s independent history. Alongside corporate projects, animation and campaigns, the studio makes room for documentaries that expand its visual language and capacity to listen.
Credits
- Director, writer, cinematographer and post-production: Bill Szilagyi.
- Producer, editor and location sound: Cris Szilagyi.
- Featuring: Crawford Mandumbwa.
- Associate producer: Rafael Nani.
- Assistant editors: David Oliveira and Paulo Martins.
- Sound design, mixing and mastering: Daniel Amaro.
- Local guide and driver: Fabiano da Silva.
- Hospitality: Patrícia da Silva.
- Subtitles: Yulia Amaral.
- Additional review and translations: Eduardo Watanabe, Hélder Nóbrega, Rogério Sales and Thiago Pastori.
- Brazilian Film Certificate: B19-004392-00000.
Film stills
Gallery
EPK + IMDb
Press kit
The EPK contains the synopsis, technical details, credits, poster and high-resolution images.
Dumela
About the director
Bill Szilagyi is a director, producer and partner at Dumela. He has worked in the creative industry since 2004 across directing, animation, editing and post-production. Alongside Cris Szilagyi, he develops corporate projects and independent films such as Autognose and Libertai.
