2016

#DocImpact
Graffiti art by Victor Ving
CELEBRATING THE
DOCUMENTARY FILMS THAT
HAVE MADE THE GREATEST
IMPACT ON SOCIETY
 7 Impact Award 2016 Welcome 8

HOT
Impact Award Welcome

The Doc Impact Award 2016 is presented by:

DANG We are so proud to share with you the story of the five
remarkable winners of the Doc Impact Award 2016.
To qualify for the Doc Impact Award, excellence in filmmaking
is not enough. Doc Impact Award films must also have
created significant and measurable social impact.

Since 2011 this annual prize has been celebrating the power
of film as a driver of change. Our aim:
—To help build new fans for the films
—Create new partners for the campaigns
—To share best practice for the whole community

Read on to learn about the campaign strategy & impact

achievements for Virunga.

To read all five case studies and see previous winners

go to www.docimpactaward.org and follow the conversation
online at #docimpact
 9
Food Chains Virunga The Film 10

WINNER:
Defending
a national park,

VIRUNGA
its natural resources
and the world’s last
mountain gorillas.
 11 Virunga The Film 12

VIRUNGA
Food Chains

Critical Acclaim

“Showcasing
the best and
the worst in
human nature,
The Film
von Einsiedel’s
In the forested depths of eastern Congo
Virunga wrenches
lies Virunga National Park, one of the most
a startlingly
bio-diverse places on Earth and home to the
lucid narrative
planet’s last remaining mountain gorillas.
from a sickening
In this wild but enchanted environment, a small
web of bribery,
and embattled team of park rangers – including
corruption and
an ex-child soldier turned ranger, a caretaker
violence.”
of orphan gorillas, and a conservationist –
—
protect this UNESCO world heritage site from New York Times
armed militia, poachers, and the dark forces Critics Pick
struggling to control Congo’s rich natural
resources. When the newly formed Congolese
M23 rebel group declares war, a new conflict EMMY FOR
threatens the lives and stability of everyone OUTSTANDING
and everything they’ve worked so hard to CINEMATOGRAPHY
protect, with the filmmakers and the film’s
participants caught in the crossfire.
PEABODY AWARD
A powerful combination of investigative journalism and nature
documentary, Virunga tells the story of this group of committed park
rangers as they fight to preserve one of the world’s most precious
natural environments from the damaging incursion from unscrupulous
oil company SOCO international, its aggressive public relations
ACADEMY AWARD
representatives and the exploitative forces they attract.
NOMINEE
 13
The Campaign Virunga The Campaign 14

THE CAMPAIGN
 15 Virunga The Campaign 16

CONTEXT
The Campaign

The film team launched a campaign to redress the

balance and inform the world of what was happening
in Virunga National Park. The campaign had a clear set
of ambitious objectives that were designed to make
a dent on this complicated, geopolitical issue.

The competing interests fighting for resource depended upon by

dominance in and around the park over 200,000 Congolese people.
during filming were fierce and the This concession drew unwelcome
stakes were high. The park – a attention from the FTSE 100 British
UNESCO World Heritage Site is one petroleum company, SOCO
of the most biologically diverse International. Theoretically, national
locations on the planet. Within these and international law protected
lush environs reside half of all species Virunga from industrial exploitation
on the African continent including – but SOCO managed to obtain
elephants, lions, hippos, chimpanzees, government permits for oil
okapi, rare birds and just over half exploration of which approximately
of the world’s last remaining 52% was inside the park.
880 mountain gorillas.
In addition to SOCO’s exploratory
Hidden in and around the offensive, Virunga was again
animals’ leafy habitats are untold becoming a target for rebel armies.
riches in the form of minerals, Over the years, these groups have
precious metals, gems, rubber often clashed with park rangers and
and petroleum – resources that have raped and looted surrounding The goal of the campaign
for hundreds of years have made populations. Re-entering a was to entrench Virunga
the Congo a target for rapacious vulnerable period, the most National Park as the source
global powers. prominent such group was the of peace, stability and
M23, an army whose goal was prosperity in eastern Congo;
Consumer demand drove foreign to topple the Congolese safeguarding the park by
exploration to Virunga’s sacrosanct government and its allied UN forces. highlighting and stopping
borders once a concession was (The M23 movement folded in the corporate wrongdoing.
drawn over Lake Edward – a clean November 2013).
 17 Virunga The Campaign 18

THE CAMPAIGN
The Campaign

wrongdoing were made. The to its release on Netflix, the film Key events for this target
second approach required the team targeted key influencers group included screenings
film work to be of the highest and worked with international at EU, Belgian, Dutch and
journalistic standards. Making partners to reach the following UK Parliaments, Screening
such serious allegations the film influential targets: on Capitol Hill, German
team could not afford to make Development Ministry screening
mistakes and their rigorous Governmental: and a UK Development Ministry
preparation proved to be The campaign held screenings Screening.
invaluable for the media eruption at six parliaments, on Capitol Hill
post launch and for the partners’ and many diplomatic missions, Business:
work going forward. screenings with the Congolese Key partnerships with The B
diaspora in the UK and the US, Team — co-founded by Richard
Targeted Partnerships and a special screening hosted Branson, The Mo Ibrahim
Licensing Virunga to Netflix, by Leonardo DiCaprio for Foundation, Investec Asset
for their highly curated Originals President Bill Clinton and Hillary Management (IAM) and Google
slate, ensured that the film Clinton. The campaign goal here helped bring the issues in the
would reach the widest possible was to ensure that those film to members of the
international audience. To date, working at the geopolitical level investment and business
Virunga is available on the platform were aware and engaged with community. Key events included
to screen in 190 countries to a the issue. The team worked two private screenings at the
potential audience of 75 million closely with the British Bulgari Hotel, London, the UK
subscribers (and counting). In Government, the Belgian Premiere co-hosted by IAM and
addition, the film secured high Government, British & Belgian well attended by business
How the Campiagn Worked wrongdoing of SOCO and its visibility through their Executive Embassies in DRC, Dutch individuals, Dutch Development
The primary aim of using the film associates, the team had to be Producer, Leonardo DiCaprio Foreign Ministry, German Bank screenings, World
was to bring Virunga to as wide ready to launch a legal campaign and was subject to an extensive Foreign Ministry, Norwegian Economic Forum screening at
an audience as possible and to concurrently with the launch of marketing campaign by Netflix Foreign Ministry, European Davos for business leaders and
raise maximum awareness of the the film. This was managed (more usual for a narrative Commissioner, EU Parliament, influencers, private screening for
threats faced by the park. The through close cooperation with a feature) both at release and Former Great Lakes Envoy Mary Generation Investment staff and
immediate need was to protect number of well-respected in the run up to the Academy Robinson, US State Department, the Google Impact Challenge.
the park from oil exploration. In lawyers and legal firms working Awards, including the placement Senator Russ Feingold, Senator
the long term, the park’s safety pro-bono. of billboards in New York, LA and Chris Coons, Representative Shareholders:
needs to be guaranteed for the London – where they would be Karen Bass, UK Foreign & The team’s engagement
future generations of Congol The legal strand of the campaign seen by SOCO’s employees and Commonwealth Office, UK All strategy with the shareholder
and the rest of the world. was a two-pronged approach. peers, gaining maximum exposure Party Parliamentary Group on community, as well as the wider
The first was to design strategies for the campaign goals. the Great Lakes, APPG Great corporate/business community,
Due to the nature of the film and to ensure that the rule of law Lakes Chair; Lord McConnell, began by showing the film for
the legal sensitivities of was upheld in the relevant But the campaign started long International Contact Group key high-profile companies and
highlighting the suspected jurisdictions where allegations of before the awards season. Prior on the Great Lakes Region. investors. By educating
 19 Virunga The Campaign 20

“It [Virunga] has had a very

The Campaign

shareholders in private
screenings followed by small powerful effect. One thing
Q & A’s it provided a means
for this critical audience to we’ve come to realize is that
engage with the issues on the institutions responsible for
their own terms, in a safe
environment. They were regulating business activities
presented with evidence which and upholding the law are often
allowed them to question and
feel supported in making their
quite slow to act, and need to be
own enquiries. Early supporters inspired. That’s the role media can
of this strategy included have. It has had a pivotal role in
Investec Asset Management
and Aviva, both shareholders protecting the park; we now feel
who went on to put significant a lot more confident about our
pressure on SOCO to address
the allegations against them.
ability to continue protecting it.”
—
This area of work also saw key
Emmanuel de Merode
engagement with the Church
Director of Virunga
of England Ethical Investment
National Park
Fund and screenings hosted
by the Zoological Society
of London (ZSL).
1. Ask SOCO to make an Since the Netflix launch, there the campaign worked closely with devised to bring a series
The film team wanted this absolute commitment to has been increased activity from local civil society groups on the of films about Virunga to the
to be a precedent-setting the DRC government and members of the public writing to ground in North Kivu – IDPE local communities in North Kivu.
case as well as a warning UNESCO never to explore shareholders asking them to (Innovation for the Development The overarching aim of this being
to international corporations in Virunga National Park, positively engage with SOCO. and Protection of the to represent local communities
operating in Africa. In order regardless of its World The film team continues to Environment), Copeile to themselves in a positive light,
to safeguard the future of Heritage Status. receive regular feedback from (Committee of Individual and to show the Congolese
the park, shareholders were audiences who have been Fishermen), Reseau Cref fighting for justice and with pride.
asked to directly engage with 2. A
 sk SOCO to commit inspired by Virunga in this way. (Network for Conservation This mobile cinema screening tour
SOCO. The campaign sought to an exit plan that properly and Rehabilitation of Forest rolled out in August 2015 reaching
to encourage shareholders safeguards the area of the Local stakeholders: Ecosystems), SOPR and Congolese who live and work
to avoid divesting which could park formerly permitted As well as working with CREDDHO (Centre for Research within a day’s walk of the park.
potentially lead to reduced for drilling (e.g. responsible international partners such as and Investigation into the One of the additional highlights
control over the actions of the measures to ensure the the National Committee of the Environment, Democracy and of working with local partners
company. Instead, they asked permit is not simply Netherlands (IUCN NL), Human Human Rights). An audience brought representatives from
shareholders to: sold on). Rights Watch and Global Witness, engagement campaign was IDPE and Copeile to speak at a UK
 21
The Campaign Virunga The Campaign 22

included securing an Op-Ed When @LeoDiCaprio shared Public Call to Action

co-written by Archbishop news of the Oscar nomination During public screenings, the
Desmond Tutu, Sir Richard on Twitter in January 2015 it audiences were encouraged to
Branson and Howard G. Buffett. resulted in almost two thousand become involved in the public
Other high profile advocates re-tweets, bringing further attention engagement campaign through
included: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sir to the park and the threats it faced. four “Take Action” points:
David Attenborough, President
Bill Clinton, Youssou N’Dour,
Fally Ipupa, Salif Keita, Edward
Norton, Bianca Jagger, Vivienne
Media
Since the film’s launch in April
2014, there have been over 600
1 To bring attention to the park,
the film and the issue on social
media with suggested tweets:
Westwood, Hillary Clinton, Ben global media articles on Virunga What is SOCO International doing
Affleck, Bennett Miller, Chelsea including: CNN, BBC, LA Times, to safeguard #Virunga?
Clinton, Mo Ibrahim and Hadeel Wall Street Journal, The Sun, Watch @virungamovie on #Netflix
Ibrahim, Mark Ruffalo, Paul The Guardian, as well as 10 pieces today and #TakeAction
Haggis, Wendy Schmidt, Paul in the New York Times alone, virungamovie.com/#takeaction
Wesley, Nicholas Hoult, Jessica including a front page feature.
Chastain, Frances Fisher, David
Beckham, Natalie Portman,
Oprah Winfrey and Jane Fonda.
In addition, there were multiple
appearances on international
TV channels and radio stations,
2 Sign up to the website to join
the #TeamVirunga mailing list.
By doing so, this allowed the film
including CNN, Al Jazeera English, team to update audiences on
Al Jazeera America, MSNBC, recent developments or new
Bryan Christy PBS, NPR and CCTV Africa as #TakeAction suggestions, keeping
@BryanChristy well as in-depth articles in Der them continually engaged with
Parliamentary screening hosted for Wildlife event with HRH Duke Power of investigative Spiegel, Men’s Journal and the the park’s struggle.
by the All Party Parliamentary of Cambridge, David Beckham and story: Church of England aforementioned Huffington
Group on the Great Lakes.

International Stakeholders:
Emmanuel de Merode, Virgin Unite,
Google US and Google UK, UNESCO
HQ in Paris and by UN Envision in
may sell £3m stake in Soco
oil re fear 4 gorilla haven
Post Op-Ed by Archbishop
Tutu, Sir Richard Branson and
Howard G. Buffett.
3 Donate to Virunga National
Park – the most direct way
to support the park was through
@virungamovie
The campaign also generated New York. raising critical funds to support
engagement with a number of The campaign inspired its conservation work.
eminent organizations including; Champions further in-depth reporting
UNESCO, the UN Development
Program, the EU, the World Bank,
Royal Foundation, United for
In addition to these targeted
screenings, the team engaged
a number of high-profile advocates
Leonardo DiCaprio
@LeoDiCaprio
and journalism on Virunga
from Global Witness, Human
Rights Watch, The Telegraph,
4 Check their investments and
pension funds. If they were
invested in SOCO, audiences were
Thanks to all who joined
Wildlife, Transparency International, to raise awareness and share the at the #Virunga screening the New York Times and the asked to write to the company and
Synchronicity Earth and Virgin film to their online followers. This last night, esp President BBC who all reported on the ask them if they intended to really
Unite. Key screenings for this group proved vital in allowing them to @BillClinton and the allegations of bribery and stay away from Virunga forever
were hosted at the UN, World Parks reach further audiences to keep #Netflix Team. corruption and/or human rights and what they intended to do to
Congress, the World Bank, United Virunga in the spotlight. This work abuses highlighted by the film. safeguard the park for the future.
 23 Virunga The Campaign 24

IMPACT DYNAMICS
The Campaign

CHANGING MINDS CHANGING BEHAVIOURS

AT WORK
Mass awareness and understanding –
Actively mobilizing people
creating a shift in public attitudes.
to do different, not just think different – whether
Reach a mass audience with the distribution that’s to buy or boycott, donate or volunteer.
As a tool for analyzing campaign of Virunga.
strategies, BRITDOC uses what Encourage shareholders to positively engage with
we call the four Impact Dynamics; Target Audience: International public SOCO in order to safeguard the future of the park
broad categories for the kinds of and to encourage SOCO to carry out an adequate,
Informing the debate around extraction
change you can make in the independent investigation into all allegations of
in world heritage sites.
world. This has been developed wrongdoing, accounting for their worrying lack
by studying the films that we Target Audience: International public; United of oversight whilst operating in the DRC.
have worked with, as well as Nations World Heritage Committee; all UN
working with NGOs and activists Nations; Corporations working in World Heritage Target Audience: International and SOCO
to understand how they sites and their investors, brokers and insurers shareholders
conceptualize their campaigns. and target governments.
More information on the impact
dynamics can be found in
impactguide.org
Support the work of the civil society in North
Kivu, by aiding the debate around oil versus
CHANGING STRUCTURES
sustainable development amongst the wider Top down change whether
Here we apply the Impact local community. in politics or business, directly influencing
Dynamics to the campaign goals law and policy to change the context.
Target Audience: Populations within a day’s
of Virunga. walk from the Virunga National Park borders Ensure that the rule of law was upheld in the
(about four million individuals). jurisdictions where allegations of wrongdoing
were made.
Target Audience:

BUILDING COMMIUNITIES The British oil company, SOCO, its associates

and lawyers and target governments
Grassroots – providing the focal point around
Secure elite political engagement and high-
which people come together.
level influential support to inform the debate
around extraction in World Heritage Sites.
Support the work of the sustainable
development initiatives — Virunga Alliance. Target Audience:
United Nations World Heritage Committee;
Target Audience: Populations within a day’s all UN Nations; Corporations working in World
walk from the Virunga National Park borders Heritage sites and their investors, brokers and
(about four million individuals). insurers and target governments.
 25 Virunga Who Saw It? 26

Cinema
Who Saw It

WHO SAW IT?

April 2014
World Premiere at Broadcast
Tribeca Film Festival, NY

183,000
Oct/Nov 2014
Theatrical runs in NY,
LA and London 190 Countries

Non-Theatrical Screenings Trailer Views

vimeo.com/92226142

100 FILM FEST Broadcast

250,240
Broadcast four times on AfriDocs to

SCREENINGS +
all 49 countries in sub-Saharan Africa
on satellite channel DSTV ED190 and
terrestrial channel GoTV.

103 WORLDWIDE
In South Africa alone, 92,165
households watched the film Official Netflix trailer views
(10% of all Channel ED viewers that week) youtube.com/watch?v=wxXf2Vxj_EU

Netflix produced a series of short online

trailers for the Academy campaign
Between April 2014 and December 2015: including “Virunga: Consider This”
almost 100 film festival screenings youtube.com/watch?v=WeGaacZwhvQ
Website

49,198 VIEWS
plus 103 other screenings worldwide,

655,250
including 30 countries outside
of Netflix reach: Armenia, Bosnia
& Herzegovina, China, Croatia, Czech
Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Georgia, Greece,
Iceland, India, Italy, Kosovo, Lithuania,
Malaysia, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, unique visitors 95% rating on Metacritic; 100%
Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, on Rotten Tomatoes; 8.3/10 on IMDB and
Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, is one of the highest rated films on Netflix
Taiwan, Turkey, UAE, Ukraine
 27
Who Saw It Virunga Who Saw It? 28

Facebook Festivals

WHO SAW IT?

facebook.com/virungamovie
AWARDS
57,995 84
Likes

75 AWARDS INTERNATIONAL
INCLUDING: FILMS FESTS
Paul Wesley
@PaulWesley

I was utterly moved and riveted by

INCLUDING:
@virungamovie — please watch this film
on @netflix now. It is beyond important

—BAFTA Nominee for

Best Documentary Film :
—Academy Award Nominee for
Twitter Best Documentary Feature

12,008
—Film Independent Spirit Award —Tribeca Film Festival
Nominee for Best Documentary —Hot Docs
—Cinema Eye Honor for Outstanding —AFI Silverdocs
Achievement in Cinematography —One World Human Rights Film Festival
—PGA Award for Outstanding Producer —Abu Dhabi Film Festival
Followers of Documentary Nominee —Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival
—Theatrical Motion Pictures and DGA —Shanghai International Film Festival
Award for Outstanding Directorial —Melbourne International Film Festival
YouTube Achievement in Documentary Nominee —International Film Festival (Seoul)
Google Doodle Earth Day Challenge —Peabody Award —Addis International Film Festival
with Paul Wesley, April 21 2015 —TV Academy Honor

46,959 VIEWS
—Grierson Award for Best Cinema Documentary
—Feature Documentary Award at DOXA
—DuPont-Columbia Award for
Outstanding Journalism
—Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography
Other
Instagram 7,288 followers
Mail Chimp 21,061 Sign ups
29 Virunga Impact & Achievements 30

IMPACT &
ACHIEVEMENTS
31 Virunga Timeline 32

2007 2012
VIRUNGA 1996—PRESENT
War in the Democratic
Republic of Congo, which
has killed more than 6m
people
2008—2012
Fragile peace in
DRC; Virunga
National Park
flourishes
SEP 2011
SOCO begins to
conduct an aerial
survey in Block 5
APRIL 2012
M23 Rebellion
begins

TIMELINE
DEC 2007
SOCO International signs a

WORLD EVENTS
production sharing contract for
Block 5 Albertine Graben, over
half of which overlaps the
Virunga National Park

JAN 2012 APR 2012

Production Focus of
and film shifts
investigation to covering
begins M23 Rebellion

THE FILM
THE CAMPAIGN
IMPACT & ACHIEVEMENTS
33 Virunga Timeline 34

2014 APR 2014

AUG 2014
SOCO begins seismic study
in Virunga National Park
2015 MAR 2015
BBC reported that the
Democratic Republic of
JUL 2015
The Church
of England
NOV 2015
SOCO relinquished
its license to Block V,
2016
WORLD EVENTS
Congo says it wants to divest their which overlaps Virunga
Director of the Virunga National Park, redraw the boundaries of £1.6 million National Park
Emmanuel de Merode, shot by Virunga National Park, to stake in
unknown assailants on the road to Goma allow for oil exploration SOCO

APR 2014 JUN 2014 OCT 2014 NOV 2014 JAN 2015 MAY 2015 JAN 2016
World premiere UK Premiere at Edinburgh —Leonardo —US theatrical release in Virunga announced as African broadcast premiere Netflix goes
at Tribeca Film Festival International Film Festival DiCaprio joins New York and LA Academy Award nominee to all 49 sub-Saharan global — Virunga

THE FILM
as Executive —Virunga launches on Netflix for Best Doc countries now available
Producer in 55 countries in 190 countries
THROUGHOUT 2014 JUL 2014 —UK’s Picturehouse THROUGHOUT 2015
Virunga screens at 37 Film Netflix pick up exclusive Cinema tour Virunga screens at 58 Film
Festivals across the world distribution rights to Virunga in ten cities Festivals around the world

APR— JUN 2014 JUN 2014 JULY-SEPT 2014 NOV 2014 JAN 2015 APR 2015
Governmental screening —Screenings at EU, Virunga nominated as a —London Premiere for —Leonardo DiCaprio hosts Google Doodle Earth Day
events in the USA, UK, Belgian, Dutch and UK Google Impact Challenge high profile advocates screening for President Bill Challenge
Belgium and The Hague Parliaments and on finalist from business & investment Clinton and former Secretary
Capitol Hill arenas, government, press, of State, Hillary Clinton
—Screening for the law and NGOs —Screening at the Federal Ministry
All-Party Parliamentary —Virunga launches on Netflix for Economic Cooperation and
Group on the African
JUL 2014
—Sir David Attenborough via Development, Bonn, Germany MAY 2015
Great Lakes Region, The Independent “Sir David —World Economic Forum Afridocs broadcast on
attended by Private Screening hosted by Chelsea Attenborough facing new Screening, Davos channels ED DSTV and GoTV
representatives from Clinton, Hadeel Ibrahim for The Africa battle to save the gorillas” —
IDPE and Copeile Center, filmmaker, Bennett Miller and original article received
His Excellency Michael Moussa-Adamo,
the Gabonese Ambassador to the US
1000 social shares FEB 2015 AUG 2015
Screening for -Mobile cinema screening
the World Bank tour in North Kivu for
communities local to Virunga
DEC 2014
Virunga debated at

THE CAMPAIGN
All Party Parliamentary
Group (APPG) meeting
on Corruption
APR 2014 – DEC 2015
103 Non-Theatrical/Influencer screenings worldwide

JUN 2014 SEP 2014 JAN 2015 MID 2015 NOV 2015 THROUGHOUT 2016
—Global Witness uses undercover footage provided Global Witness cites The Church of England Tourism in Virunga SOCO relinquished Development projects
by filmmakers to publish a catalogue of accusations Virunga in a call to SOCO calls for SOCO to leave reaches an all time its license to Block in Virunga, including hydro-

IMPACT & ACHIEVEMENTS

against SOCO in its report “Drillers in the Mist” to launch a full and Virunga, initiating an high having increased V, which overlaps power projects, fisheries
—Human Rights Watch report released expanding independent investigation investigation into SOCO’s month-on-month since Virunga National and agricultural efficiency
on the allegations put forward in the film into their activities in operations in the park the park re-opened Park projects that started before
Virunga National Park in Jan 2014 the war recommence
 35 Virunga Impact & Achievements 36

IMPACT & ACHIEVEMENTS

Impact & Achievements

Significant pressure was put

on SOCO by shareholders Aviva
and Investec Asset Management
who joined the media call for
SOCO to address the film’s
allegations against them.

Putting Virunga Individual invitations for When the film came out,
on the World Stage Virunga National Park Ranger SOCO responded with a
Virunga and its campaign and film contributor, Andre series of intimidating letters
have brought Virunga National Bauma, Producer of Virunga, but nothing more. But feeling
Park to an international Joanna Natasegara, and Virunga the growing global pressure,
audience in 190 countries. National Park Ranger, Francine in June 2014 they acted. The
The campaign has also set Bwizabule Muhimuzi, to speak day before the SOCO AGM,
a precedent for other world on BBC News Hour and BBC the campaign was dealt a harsh
heritage sites in danger. World Service demonstrate blow when SOCO publicly
BAFTA and Academy Award that media coverage of Virunga made a conditional agreement
nominations have helped National Park has followed with the World Wildlife
ensure an international the narrative of the campaign; Foundation, which suggested
presence on the largest transforming Virunga from they would cease all operations
possible platform for the film. a park facing multiple risks in the park. The film team
to a park that has the support report that this statement
There were few journalists of a local and international was in no way related to their
visiting or writing about Virunga community and more campaign. They also allowed accessible in every target campaign, and that it was
until 2014, but since the film’s specifically, a solution. wide distribution in Africa territory (and beyond), the made without consultation
premiere at Tribeca in April knowing the importance of the campaign team has managed with key stakeholders, without
2014, Virunga has consistently Partnership With Netflix work to the issue. Working this to galvanize yet more support an absolute commitment from
featured in news articles In the process of taking on way, with the distribution for its campaign goals and SOCO to not explore for oil
internationally. Almost two years a world rights contract for complementing and highlighting #TeamVirunga continues within the park’s current
on and stories continue to be Virunga, the filmmakers report the campaign work, only further to grow steadily. borders regardless of its
published with National Netflix to be not only an magnified the best of both sides, World Heritage status, and
Geographic articles, an LA understanding partner on the creating a snowballing press SOCO and its Vested without any obligation on
Times feature, Daily Mail campaign but a willing and effect around Virunga. Interest in Virunga the company to meaningfully
coverage (reaching over 15,000 flexible ally. Without the The team’s engagement with investigate the allegations
shares), two CNN news teams traditional constraints of In January 2016, Netflix the shareholder community, put before them in Virunga,
in the park and a PBS Newshour theatrical numbers, Netflix announced they would be as well as the wider corporate/ or subsequent Human Rights
report accompanied by a live allowed a large amount of adding 130 countries to their business community, began by Watch and Global Witness
Q&A Twitter session and non-theatrical and influencer slate, including every country showing the film for key high- reports, or the Daily
promoted by Ben Affleck. screenings integral to the across Africa. With the film now profile companies & investors. Telegraph investigation.
 37 Virunga Impact & Achievements 38

“We are aware

Impact & Achievements

After a series of private briefings one year on from the WWF

of allegations with the campaign team, in agreement, Global Witness
January 2015 one of SOCO’s released damning new evidence
of wrongdoing key shareholders, the Church implicating SOCO in further
made against SOCO of England loudly voiced their wrongdoing in Virunga.
concern about SOCO’s failure Compounded by the company’s
International, its to engage with the allegations failure to adequately address
employees and raised in the film. The Ethical their previously publicized
Investment Advisory Group concerns, the Church of England
agents connected called on SOCO to give a clear had no other choice but to
to its activities in the commitment to leave Virunga divest their £1.6 million stake
Virunga National Park, as well as to conduct an in SOCO. This act was only
investigation into their the third time in five years that
including those made operations in the park. In the church has divested from
in the documentary an unprecedented move, the a company on ethical grounds.
Fund publicly stated its
film Virunga. We dissatisfaction “with SOCO’s The company remained silent
expect all companies failure to adequately address for some time and then in
to act appropriately the concerns raised in the movie November 2015 they quietly
and subsequent reports.” stated that they no longer
and to the highest At the time of writing, the held the license for the Block
of standards, and announcement had been shared V concession in which they
over 24,000 times on The had been exploring for oil.
encourage anyone Guardian’s website (the majority
with evidence of of Guardian articles see just The team are using Virunga’s
1-2,000 shares). success as a precedent-setting
serious fraud, bribery case, not only for other world
or corruption to Following this move from heritage sites at risk of
contact the Serious the Church, SOCO announced exploitation, but also for
that they would carry out an vulnerable societies attempting
Fraud Office.” internal investigation into their to garner economic growth
— operations, however it quickly without further damaging their
The Rt. Hon. Hugo Swire became apparent that the own communities. Virunga
Minister of State at the investigation was extremely National Park is an ongoing
Foreign & Commonwealth Office limited and would in fact do inter-governmental issue and the
little in terms of a full and team continues to be invited to
transparent inquiry. discuss the issue by parliaments
and committees, as well as at
In June 2015, at SOCO’s AGM conferences from Davos to the
 39
Impact & Achievements Virunga Impact & Achievements 40

World Bank to Transparency outstanding commitment The Virunga Alliance Along with IUCN NL, they support those living and
International. It has been cited to the preservation of the Built around the four pillars developed an outreach and working in and around the
in key discussion forums such biodiversity of Virunga. of economic development; engagement plan with a region. The collaboration
as the World Parks Congress tourism, hydroelectric power, participatory mobile cinema between the local partners
on issues from corruption Keeping Virunga Sustainable agri-business and sustainable tour to show a series of short and the film team meant they
to environmental protection. The park has received steady fisheries, the aim of the Alliance films. These films feature could facilitate this project,
The film and the team’s ongoing donations over the last 18 is to ensure the park as a source representatives of local civil by shooting and cutting the
commitment have ensured the months, which spiked at the time of stability and prosperity for society, from the fishermen films based on the partners
conversation is at the top of the Netflix launch and the those who live and work within of Lake Edward to the female messaging. The screening tour
of the agenda across the bar. Oscar nomination announcement a day’s walk of its borders. rangers of Virunga National Park is enjoying a successful roll
and even more around the week to employees of the Mutwanga out across the region. With
Recognition of Local Partners of the Oscars themselves. The The filmmakers understood that hydroelectric power station. 24 screenings to date, there
In January 2016, the Alexander filmmakers donated all profit the local partners knew exactly has even been one projection
Soros Foundation gave its from the Netflix licence fee and what needed to be done and The short films discuss the role with the participation of political
annual Award for Activism film award prizes to Virunga. how to do it, and thus supported of the park for the community and administrative leaders,
in Environmental and Human them with capacity and logistics. and how it can enrich and including the FARDC, the
Rights to two of the campaign’s In addition to raising public
local partners – Bantu awareness for the Park, the
Lukambo, Director of IDPE and media have taken a much-
Alphonse Muhindo Valivambene expanded interest in the park’s
of Reseau Cref. Both went to tourism industry. Virunga
Washington, DC to meet with National Park was featured in
U.S. State Department officials, the New York Times’ “Top 52
advocating for an investigation places to go in 2016”, Town &
of SOCO’s activities in the park. Country’s Top 100 Best Hotels
in the World and a forthcoming
Park Director Emmanuel Condé Nast China piece is
de Merode and the rangers demonstrating Virunga’s global
of Virunga continue to be reach. More importantly, since
recognized internationally the film’s launch in April 2014,
for their incredible work. In tourism in the park has
2015 Southern Sector Warden, increased and the number
Innocent Mburanumwe accepted of visitors is currently at an all
the Rolex National Geographic time high. This is particularly
Explorers of the Year award on important because of the
behalf of all of the rangers whilst prominent role tourism plays
Emmanuel received the Prince in Virunga National Park’s
Albert II of Monaco Foundation ten-year initiative,
Biodiversity Award for his the Virunga Alliance.
 41
Impact & Achievements Virunga Impact & Achievements 42

National Police of Congo, Unexpected Relationships

MONUSCO (United Nations At the start of the campaign
Organization Stabilization the filmmakers could never have
Mission in the Democratic anticipated that Violet Films
Republic of Congo), the (the impact producers) would
provincial Ministry of the Interior, continue to have such
civil society and local NGOs, a fundamental relationship with
and 23 screenings organized Virunga National Park, long after
by partners Search for the conclusion of the main film
Common Ground (SFCG). campaign. Violet Films now
runs the park’s strategy and
One of these films about communications and Joanna
the potential of the Virunga Natasegara was also recently
Alliance, was presented by made a trustee of the The
the Head of the ICCN Virunga Foundation.
(Congolese Wildlife Authority)
to delegates at the 39th World Work Left to do
Heritage Committee Meeting With so much momentum and
in Bonn in July 2015. Member good will created by Virunga
states displayed overwhelming and sustained by Violet Films,
support for the park, sharing the film continues to leave a
their condolences for the powerful legacy in the park.
rangers who have lost their
lives protecting its universal Virunga National Park
value. The parties agreed continues to go from strength
almost unanimously on the to strength, with the Virunga
subject of oil, expressing that Alliance forging ahead to bring
a boundary modification a sustainable future to the
should not be made to the communities of North Kivu.
park in order to allow for oil
extraction. Others made In December 2015, H.E.
a direct plea to the government President Kabila opened the
to cancel all permits granting Matebe hydro-electric plant,
permission to mine for oil which will bring 12,000 jobs
in Virunga National Park. to the region.
 43 Virunga Impact & Achievements 44

CONCLUSION WATCH THE FILM

Impact & Achievements

development goals in eastern

Congo. Virunga Alliance aims to

NETFLIX.COM/TITLE/80009431?LOCALE=EN-GB
deliver large-scale opportunities
to tens of thousands of
The fate of Virunga National Congolese men and women who
Park was always a global issue are ready to rebuild the region
but was not widely known
before the film. The campaign
and redefine the country’s future.
WEBSITE
VIRUNGAMOVIE.COM
to protect Virunga acts as a
precedent-setting case for other “I love that the work to support the local
world heritage sites in danger. groups was developed with them, and directly
It also works as a warning to in response to their needs. Shining the light
international corporations
working in fragile environments.
of the power of the park as a resource for local
sustainable communities. SO refreshing. This TRAILER
The allegations brought
against SOCO International
is quite simple, but incredibly meaningful.
The power of people on the ground resisting
groups like SOCO, helping the rangers, fighting
VIRUNGAMOVIE.COM/#TRAILER
by the film were supported
FOLLOW
poachers, protecting the animals, everything
by local NGOs and civil society depends on their faith in their park.
organizations working in and —
around Virunga National park.
The success of the film and
campaign put increased
Review Panel
FACEBOOK.COM/VIRUNGAMOVIE
pressure on the company
to end its exploration for
“Virunga is a powerful and challenging film. It
has brought to the attention of many the story TWITTER.COM/VIRUNGAMOVIE
oil within the protected World
Heritage Site. This has forced
SOCO to defend itself against
of Africa’s oldest National Park, its people and
wildlife. The bravery and dedication of the park
wardens to communicate this story is deeply
INSTAGRAM.COM/VIRUNGAMOVIE
inspiring. The film resulted in serious questions
CONTACT
criticism from shareholders,
the media and NGOs. being asked by investors about the actions and
intentions of the London listed company SOCO
Moving beyond the film,
the team remains heavily
committed to supporting
International. As a result of the engagement
that the Church of England Commissioners and
Pensions Board conducted with the company
VIRUNGAMOVIE.COM/#CONTACT
ACT
the objectives of the Virunga we sold our holding in the company.”
Alliance - the intersection —
of civil society, private sector Adam Matthews, Head of Engagement,
and state institutions working
together towards sustainable
Church Commissioners and Pensions Board,
The Church of England VIRUNGAMOVIE.COM/#TAKEACTION
45 Virunga The Team 46

THE TEAM
 47
The Team Virunga The Team 48

THE
FILMMAKERS

ORLANDO VON JOANNA OTHER KEY MEMEBERS

EINSIEDEL NATASEGARA OF THE TEAM
Director / Producer Producer / Impact Producer Executive Producers
Orlando von Einsiedel is a multi- Joanna is an award-winning Leonardo Dicaprio
award winning filmmaker and has producer and impact producer Adam Del Deo
directed films spanning Africa, at Violet Films; currently the only Jon Drever
Asia, the Americas and the Arctic. company in the UK combining Maxyne Franklin
Covering topics from a skateboard social impact strategy and film Lisa Nishimura
school in Afghanistan, to the production. Violet is an ethical Jess Search
tracking and arrest of pirates in consultancy specializing in Howard G. Buffett, CEO
West Africa, he has won over 70 bespoke outreach campaigns Howard G. Buffett Foundation
international film awards. His films and maximizing the social change
are known for powerful visual potential for film and media Assistant Impact Producer
aesthetics, intimate personal projects. Joanna has extensive Abigail Anketell-Jones
stories and global investigations. experience in documentary film Cinematographer
2014 saw the completion of having directed and produced Franklin Dow
VIRUNGA, Orlando’s debut documentaries covering social
feature length documentary, justice and politics and has Editor
for which he was nominated for an recently worked on some of the Masahiro Hirakubo
Academy Award. Orlando co-runs world’s most impactful feature
London based film production documentaries. Most recently Composer
company Grain Media and is a Joanna produced the Academy Patrick Jonsson
director of Virunga Productions, Award and BAFTA nominated
Composer & Music Producer,
a Community Interest Company. Virunga.
Original Song, “We Will Not Go”
J. Ralph
 49 Virunga The Team 50

PARTNERS THAT
The Team

Howard G. Buffett Foundation Leonardo DiCaprio,

Long-term partner of Virunga Executive Producer
National Park, funding the In addition, his foundation went

ACTIVATE recently opened Matebe Hydro-

Electric plant. Howard G. Buffett
also assumed the role of the
on to support conservation
projects in Virunga National Park

film’s Executive Producer Netflix

Global distributor, open to
Innovation for Development working with the film team to
and Environmental Protection maximise exposure and think
Key Partners (IDEP) creatively about the film’s
Local partner and Virunga release.
Arcus Foundation Alliance partner working in
Core funding and strategic North Kivu communities around Zoological Society
support as well as advisory Virunga to promote conservation of London (ZSL)
assistance with conservation and collaborating on local and Virunga National Park and film
elements of the campaign international advocacy. campaign partner — hosting the
film’s edit suite at London Zoo
Bertha Foundation International Union for
Legal support and early film Conservation of Nature, Virunga Foundation
funding from both the National Committee of Working in a co-management
Journalism and Connect Funds, The Netherlands (IUCN NL) agreement with the park
focusing on local grassroots Virunga National Park partner authorities at ICCN to protect
campaigning. and key partner to the Virunga and develop Virunga National
film campaign, working with Park for future generations.
BRITDOC local partners in North Kivu, as This partnership led to the
Crucial supporter throughout well as facilitating screenings establishment of the Virunga
the film production and such as the Dutch Development Alliance - an ambitious plan
campaign process, providing Bank events. to use the park’s resources
expertise and guidance to sustainably to support socio-
the team. Investec Asset economic growth in the region.
Management
Copeile (IAM) 11th Hour Project
Fisherman’s collective in Key partner for reaching Core campaign funding as
Vitshumbi, local partner and business/investment well as invaluable strategic
Virunga Alliance partner; we communities, co-hosted London support connecting the
worked closely with them on and Cape Town premieres as campaign to the right people
both local and international well as facilitating a range of and helping to build vital
advocacy. other screenings. relationships.
 51
The Team Virunga The Team 52

ORGANOGRAM TRADITIONAL
DISTRIBUTION
Producer:
Joanna Natasegara

Director:
Fundraising, Theatrical,
Publicity, Project Management,
Media Strategy, Graphic Design,
Legal, In-house Consultant,
IMPACT
CAMPAIGN
Impact Producer:
Joanna Natasegara
Violet Films

Orlando Von Einsiedel Strategy Development, Assistant Impact

Grain Media Development and Management Producer:
of Partnerships, Translators, Abigail Anketell-Jones
Executive Producer: Interns, Legal, Social Media, Violet Films
Leonardo Dicaprio Partnership Management
and Community Screenings: Impact Assistant:
Theatrical Bookings; Violet Films Fleur Nieddu
International and Violet Films
Domestic Distribution:
Netflix
 53 Virunga The Team 54

PRODUCTION BUDGET
The Team

$1,000,000
Production Funders

—CBA Worldview
—Arcus Foundation
—Bertha/Britdoc
Journalism Fund
—IUCN NL
—The Funding Network

IMPACT CAMPAIGN
BUDGET
$1,000,000
Impact Campaign Funders

—IUCN NL
—Kindle Project
—Fledgling Fund
—Arcus Foundation
—11th Hour Project
—Bertha/Britdoc
Connect Fund
55 Virunga Press 56

PRESS
 57
Press Virunga Press 58

The Telegraph
By Martin Fletcher
06 September 2014
Battle for Virunga:
The Fight to Save Africa’s
Oldest National Park

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/
worldnews/africaandindianocean/
democraticrepublicofcongo/11075473/
Battle-for-Virunga-The-fight-to-save-Af-
ricas-oldest-national-park.html
 59
Press Virunga Press 60

New York Times

By Jeffrey Gettleman
15 Nov 2014
Oil Dispute Takes a Page
from Congo’s Bloody Past

nytimes.com/2014/11/16/world/oil-dispute-takes-a-page-
from-congos-bloody-past.html?_r=2
 61
Press Virunga Press 62

The Guardian
By Adam Vaughn
01 July 2015
Church of England Divests
from SOCO oil firm over
Virunga Operations

theguardian.com/environment/2015/
jul/01/church-of-england-divests-so-
co-oil-virunga-operations-ethical
 63
Press Virunga Press 64

Huffington Post
Howard G. Buffet, Richard
Branson and Desmond
Tutu Op-Ed
04 April 2015
New Troubles at the Gates
of Virunga

huffingtonpost.com/richard-branson/virunga-national-
park_b_5222851.html
 65
Press Virunga Press 66

UK Reuters
Kinshasa
03 Nov 2015
British Oil Company
SOCO says no longer holds
Congo Block Permit

uk.reuters.com/article/2015/11/03/
uk-congodemocratic-soco-intl-idUK-
KCN0SS22Q20151103
Graffiti art by Victor Ving
HUGE
Huge cheers to all our partners who have
worked together over the past year to realise
this program.

In particular we would like to recognise

the significant work invested in the Impact
reports which were produced by Erin
Sorenson in collaboration with the team
at BRITDOC and then lovingly visualised

CHEERS
by Involved Design in London.

The Impact Award trophies which were

designed and manufactured by Susan Banks,
Professor at New World School of the Arts
in Miami and photographed by Arion Doerr
in New York.

Finally the graffiti art made for this year’s

announcement was created by Victor Ving,
working on location at the Container Yard
in Los Angeles. In a film concept devised by
BRITDOC and executed by Director and DOP
Dallas Sterling and Producer Shelby Hill.

Thank you one and all.