From the Congo to The Hague: Powerful new film tells the story of an African child soldier at the ICC
Hollywood movie ‘Witness 26’ will blend history, drama and horror to shed new light on a notorious real-life war crimes trial held at the International Criminal Court.
You might not immediately associate The Hague with Hollywood blockbusters, but that could be about to change thanks to a new feature film due to be set in the city.
By Tom Clarke
Witness 26
Witness 26 is the fictional account of a real-life war crimes trial that was held at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The case against Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga Dyilo for recruiting and using child soldiers was the first ICC case to result in a conviction in 2012.
But Witness 26 isn’t a conventional courtroom drama or historical reenactment. Part horror, part history lesson, part psychological thriller - it tells the story of Malia, a fictional former child soldier abducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at the age of 14 and eventually, years later, brought to The Hague to give evidence as a witness to the atrocities.
Malia’s world unravels as she is faced with the prospect of confronting her past. Much of the action takes place in an anonymous apartment in The Hague as she tells her story to a lawyer and a psychiatrist. Slowly, her thoughts manifest into a sinister creature which is hellbent on preventing her from testifying at the court.
“Instead of a conventional film with flashbacks, I wanted to bring Africa to The Hague. The idea is that the audience feels the same fear Malia is feeling, never sure if she is going mad or if the creature is real.”
Michele Gentile, filmmaker
War and Justice
German Michele has a long affiliation with The Hague, and the ICC in particular. He served as a soldier in Afghanistan before turning his hand to documentary filmmaking and it was while he was working on a project in Palestine that he met former ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo. He co-directed two documentaries about the ICC: The International Criminal Court (2013) and War and Justice (2023) which featured legendary prosecutor Benjamin Ferencz and Hollywood star Angelina Jolie.
These collaborations led to a years-long admiration for the work the ICC has done to seek justice for the victims of war crimes who might not otherwise have their voices heard.
“As part of my research for Witness 26 I went to Sierra Leone, Uganda and the Congo and met with former child soldiers. I wanted to look in their eyes and hear their stories in person. It was intense and heartbreaking, but it helped to give the script the real pain that it needed to do justice to the story.”
Michele Gentile, filmmaker
Last hope for victims
His time in Africa gave Michele real insight into what the Court represents for those who have experienced the horrors of war. For many victims, it is their last hope.
“I looked on as they watched the ICC proceedings live on a video link, just like we would watch sports. They had a tiny TV and literally hundreds of people crowded around it watching live. That’s how thankful they were to have someone listening to their stories. I found it extraordinary that the ICC had the power to do that. So I have always been a huge believer in the role The Hague plays for people affected by conflict around the world.”
Michele Gentile, filmmaker
Collaboration with Michelle Stratton and Ari Gold
Michele has been developing Witness 26 for several years, and his script is now complete after collaboration with US co-writer Michelle Stratton and renowned producer Ari Gold. The team are keen to film in several locations around The Hague - including the old ICC building where the original hearings took place.
“I think what Michele is doing is extremely innovative. Using the genre of horror is great because it is spiritually aligned with what child soldiers really lived through, and this is an opportunity to make it visceral for a much bigger audience. Our film is entertainment, but it is also educating people about the ICC and the important work it is doing.”
Producer Ari Gold
"With Witness 26, The Hague can show the power of storytelling from the heart of international city of peace and justice. This film will bring the harrowing reality of war crimes to the screen and highlights the critical role of the International Criminal Court. We are proud that filmmaker Michele Gentile will film this deeply human production — where justice, cinema and purpose-driven stories come together."
Louise Vliegenthart, The Hague Film Office | TakeTheHague.com
