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It is with pleasure and excitement that I announce the new title of our feature documentary… ‘A Brilliant Genocide‘.

ABG Logo 1
Pre-release teaser video from A Brilliant Genocide (scroll down) 

After 6 years filming, researching and editing this film, it has naturally evolved and transformed into a much different film that we set out to make in 2009 when it all began. 

We spent 3 years on the Joseph Kony / child soldier path – and the issue of children / child soldiers and other related  human rights abuses that are of much interest to us – we condemn the use of children in war, and the abuse of any child in any way, in any part of the world. 

However, the film is no longer 100% focused on the issue of children at war and Joseph Kony’s war in northern Uganda. The film remains very much connected with Kony and his use of child soldiers- but along our 6 year journey we found some completely untold ‘hidden’ stories that we felt were even more important to bring to light.

What we discovered and continue to discover, is that the world has been fooled, as I was 6 years ago, about Joseph Kony and his war in northern Uganda. There’s another side to this story that has never been told, and we have been on a journey for the past few years to find out the truth and the backstory that has received zero media attention – and even worse than that – the people responsible for these concealed human rights abuses, are those who have been supported by the west for 30 years, and who are still in office today. And the West is still today supporting the regime, while the regime continues to enjoy complete impunity for their crimes. 

We have discovered that Kony, although blamed for the war and the suffering, is just the tip of the ice-berg. We have found that Kony did have a reason, a very legitimate reason, for his rebellion, and although his acts of violence and child abductions are deplorable, and in no way justified – he has a reason for what he has done, and in his mind his actions are justified. The truth that no one who knows will admit – will bring many people – the bigger criminals and the puppeteers who have orchestrated this war and allowed it to continue – to account. The people we have spoken with call the situation in Uganda ‘a global conspiracy of silence’. And what we will be showing in our film is that indeed it has been, and sadly continues to be so today. 

(more…)

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Check out this clip –  a sneak peek into our documentary, currently titled ‘Mad Vs Bad’.

We are in post-production, about to start editing with renowned Australian editor Bill Murphy.

Let us know your thoughts and please follow our progress on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!

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Well the past few months have been very interesting. We are excited to announce that we have a new producer on board, Jason Byrne!

Also, we have just returned from yet another filming trip, this time it was back in the UK! It was quite last minute, I was in Sydney packing a container of bikes just 10 days ago for an upcoming shipment to Cambodia for my charity Bikes 4 Life, and that’s when I got the call!

I was offered an opportunity to conduct some exclusive interviews with some people who are extremely difficult to access, but those who could add enormous insight into the film. There was also an ‘invitation only’  press conference that I was invited to attend. How could I refuse?

So, I had about 4 days to get everything sorted, get a camera man, get flights, and get all the way from Melbourne to London! As it turned out, I did go, and it all worked out rather well! My new producer organised a great camera man / DP, Ellery Ryan, who was simply brilliant!

I won’t mention all the interviews I conducted, but I will touch on the event that I was invited to attend and document. It was the press conference and launch of the recently formed Ugandan Party, FUF (Freedom and Unity Front) and its Manifesto.

The function was held at the London School of Economics (LSE) Alumni Theatre Hall on Saturday. Speakers included Professor Kaveh Moussavi of Oxford University, Dr. Amii Omara Otunnu (FUF Chairman) and Genral David Sejusa (formerly known as Tinyefuza).

General David Sejusa (Tinyefuza)
Renegade General David Sejusa (Tinyefuza)

General Sejusa, fled Uganda in April after authoring a controversial letter to internal security bosses to investigate reports of planned assassinations of members opposed to the alleged grooming of the President’s son, Muhoozi, for presidency. Sejusa fought in the National Resistance Army war that brought President Museveni to power in 1986. He also led military operations in northern Uganda against brutal warlord Joseph Kony. Sejusa was accused of highhandedness and committing atrocities in the bloody war. After an on-and-off relationship with Museveni, Sejusa in April decided to break ranks with government before escaping to London, UK where he has helped form FUF, with aim to cause regime change in Uganda. (http://chimpreports.com)

At the launch General David Sejusa, formerly the most senior army officer and closest ally of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, lifted the lid on what has been going on in the country during the 27 years of Museveni’s rule. It included heavily the state of corruption, and explicitly detailed the election rigging of the 2006 elections, stating that opposition leader Kizza Besigye clearly one the election in a landslide victory.

FUF Launch in London: General David Sejusa, Dr. Amii Omara-Otunnu and Professor Mouvani
FUF Launch in London: General David Sejusa, Dr. Amii Omara-Otunnu and Professor Kaveh Moussavi

FUF claims it intends to front “the global campaign to transform Uganda into a nation of peace and sustainable development based on the ethical values of democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of law.”

The day before leaving I also had the chance to meet again with Milton Allimadi, who had flown in from New York for the event. Milton is the publisher of Black Star News, and I had the privilege of interviewing him back in New York in 2011.

Ebony and Milton Allimadi of Black Star News
Ebony and Milton Allimadi of Black Star News

I also was honoured to meet with the brother of Dr. Olara Otunnu (UPC President) and human rights expert, Dr. Amii Omara-Otunnu, who I also conducted an interview with. He is the interim Chairman of FUF.

Dr. Amii Omara-Otunnu is the UNESCO Chair in Comparative Human Rights and Professor of History at the University of Connecticut. In addition to his UNESCO chairmanship, he is also the Executive Director of the Institute of Comparative Human Rights at the University of Connecticut.

I will release some footage from the interviews and press conference soon so please check back!

Uganda is going through some very interesting times. Times of change.

I’m back in Australia now, and have to get everything together, as a new and final stage of post-production is to begin in early 2014.

Related articles

 

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We have recently moved into new studio in Melbourne, as we enter the final stages of post-production.

 

We have partnered with filmmaker Bernie Ryan from Cyber City Films, and are working hard to complete our first edit for the documentary.

 

We haven’t yet updated anyone on our recent trip to Uganda, and will do that soon! It was an eventful trip and we accessed some people who we thought would have been impossible.

 

Victims of all sorts of atrocities, with an important story to tell.

 

eb and penny studio

 

 

 

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Friends, we’d like you to take part in naming our documentary film!!

 

Help us come up with a new name for our documentary Child Troopers (current working title).

Post your ideas here as a comment, or send them to us privately!

You can also join the conversation on our Twitter and Facebook pages.

www.facebook.com/childtroopers

www.facebook.com/atlanticstarproductions

www.twitter.com/madvsbad

www.twitter.com/atlanticstar233

 

Thank you, and we hope you choose to take part and help us come up with the best name for our documentary!