The Empty Grave2024

Songea, Tanzania. The young lawyer John Mbano in on a mission. His great-grandfather Songea Mbano, a leader of the Ngoni people, was executed by the German colonial army. His head was taken to Germany for racist research. The family is haunted by this pain to this day.

John and his wife Cesilia embark on a life-changing journey. Their research and resilience culminate in a courageous decision—to travel to Berlin in search of their ancestor's remains.
There, they join forces with activists challenging Germany's culture of denial. What follows is a rollercoaster of triumphs and setbacks. Not even the historic visit of Germany's Federal President to John's hometown heralds the return of their beloved ancestor. Yet, the Mbano family refuses to relent.

In Northern Tanzania, the Kaaya family is hopeful: Their ancestor’s remains have been found in a museum in New York. However, the struggle for return is unending as they find themselves battling institutional bureaucracy.

The Empty Grave offers a personal angle amidst the global discourse on repatriation. Beyond the debates lies the poignant tale of violated lives and the struggle for a future disentangled from a painful past.

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Festivals
– Berlin International Film Festival 2024 (Berlinale Special)
– Munich International Documentary Film Festival (dok.fest München) 2024
– dokKA Festival, Karlsruhe 2024
– Millennium Docs Against Gravity Film Festival, Warsaw 2024
– International Film Festival Innsbruck 2024
– EU-Asia Documentary Festival, Hong Kong 2024
– International Women's Film Festival of Salé, Morocco 2024
– Filmschau Baden-Württemberg 2024
– Globale Mittelhessen 2024
– NBO Film Festival Nairobi 2024
– Filmtage Oberschwaben 2024

Awards
– Baden-Württemberg Film Prize 2024
– Audience Award – International Film Festival Innsbruck, 2024
– Special Mention - International Women's Film Festival of Salé, 2024