Of Mud and Blood

Of Mud and Blood is a documentary focused on the village of Numbi in the mountains of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The film examines the daily lives of the community, including children torn between education and labor, women who sort minerals, and police officers hunting traffickers. The central conflict involves the extraction of coltan, a mineral essential for modern electronics, which is mined by hand. This process has led to decades of exploitation and violent conflict as locals struggle with the hope of escaping their circumstances through the region's wealth.

The film was directed by Jean-Gabriel Leynaud, who also co-wrote the screenplay with François-Xavier Destors. It is a joint production between France and Germany, produced by Pallas Film and Valdés. The production team included producers Laurent Baudens, Martin Hampel, and Thanassis Karathanos. With a runtime of 86 minutes, the movie was released on August 27, 2025.