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Cobra-films

COBRA Films is a film production company specializing in the creation of auteur films, primarily focusing on documentary and feature films.

Cobra-Films

Company type	CVBA
Industry	Film
Founded	1987
Founder	Anne Deligne, Daniel De Valck
Headquarters	Emile Bockstaellaan, 88, 1020 Brussels, Belgium
Website	https://www.cobra-films.be/home.php

History

Established in 1987 by Anne Deligne and Daniel De Valck, the company is committed to assisting filmmakers in realizing their artistic visions. Gilles De Valck and Francoise Hoste have been part of the team since 2015, contributing to the development of original film projects.

Work Method

Cobra Films begins by meeting with filmmakers to assess their level of commitment to their projects. If the company decides to co-produce a project, they will share the financial risks involved. In essence, Cobra Films will establish a budget for the filmmaker. If the allocated budget proves insufficient for the film, both the director and the producers will incur losses.

Filmography

• À contretemps
• La Force diagonal
• Une si longue marche
• Les Lignes intérieures
• Caught in the Rain
• Palimpsest of the Africa Museum
• Les Lunes rousses
• Fahavalo, Madagascar, 1947
• Lobi Kuna (Avant-hier/ après-demain)
• Displaced
• L’Histoire du cochon (et nous)
• Saule Marceau
• Tremor
• The Horn
• Les Éternels
• Un petit tipota
• Inside the Labyrinth
• Battles
• Depuis le retour
• N – The Madness of Reason
• See No Evil
• Fierté nationale
• Quand je serai dictateur
• Les Tourmentes
• L’Opéra du bout du monde
• Standing Eagle
• Dans le regard d’une bête
• Spectres
• Bruxelles-Kigali
• Territoire perdu
• Ex Voto
• Ça rime et ça rame comme tartine et boterham
• Parfum d’une fleur lointaine
• Les Dormants
• Chats errants
• 56 fois et encore
• Les Ballets de ci de là
• Vous êtes ici
• Au gré du temps
• Le Cercle des noyés
• Ms Völkerfreundschaft
• Un pont sur la Drina
• Mahaleo
• Correspondances
• Au-delà
• Harimano
• Kint
• Tu seras communiste, mon fils !
• Racines lointaines
• L’Homme à moitié dégelé
• Arbres
• La Parenthèse et le retour en Bohême
• Un passeport hongrois
• L’Avant-Garde russe
• L’Orient à petit feu
• Saudade Do Futuro
• Boma-Tervuren, le voyage
• Roman de femmes
• Pardevant notaire
• Les Nouveaux Entrepreneurs russes
• Vers la mer
• Plutôt la vie
• Mésanges aux boucles grises
• Le Petit Bout du monde
• Matamata et Pilipili
• Le Bouillon d’Awara
• Mon Pays au matin calme
• Les Paysages croisés
• La Sainteté Stéphane (1961-1986)
• La Souris péremptoire
• Maîtres de rues

Palimpsest of the Africa Museum (film)

Palimpsest of the Africa Museum is a documentary film directed by Matthias De Groof, which highlights the evacuation and renovation process of the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA).

Palimpsest of the Africa Museum
Directed by	Matthias De Groof
Written by	Matthias De Groof
Produced by	Daniel De Valck
Narrated by	Jean Bofane
Cinematography	Matthias De Groof
Edited by	Sebastien Demeffe
Music by	Ernst Reijseger
Production companies	Cobra Films, Atelier Graphoui
Running time	69 minutes
Country	Belgium
Languages	French, Dutch, (Dutch subtitles)

Plot

In 2013, the Royal Museum for Central Africa closed its doors for renovations. Besides physical improvements to the building and museum displays, the renovation aimed to align the museum's spirit with contemporary values. Within COMRAF, an advisory council, the process of decolonisation led to intense debates.

While the statue of Leopold II was dismantled, his spirit continued to haunt the museum's corridors and halls. The renovation provided an opportunity to redefine the existence and mission of the Museum of Central Africa in a modern context. Traditional artefacts, stuffed animals and dusty objects gave way to a more comprehensive, modern view of Africa.

The museum called on the expertise of professionals and engaged in discussions with representatives of African organisations united under the structure of COMRAF. Exhibiting minerals from Congolese soil now required more than just a scientific explanation; it forced reflection on the horrific conditions under which these resources were mined and their disruptive impact on Congolese society.

Production

Palimpsest of the Africa Museum is a Belgian film produced by two production companies, Cobra-Films and Atelier Graphoui. Funding for the film was provided by the Flemish Audiovisual Fund. Production was completed on 15 May 2019.

Awards

The film was awarded a Silver FILAF at the Festival international du livre d'art et du film.

Trivia

The film's voice-over was recorded by Congolese writer Jean Bofane.

Diorama (Film)

"Diorama" is a short film directed by Matthias De Groof. The film discusses the renovations at the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren, where staff began tearing down the old dioramas on display. According to the director, this act is presented as an allegory for the link between ecocide and colonization.

Diorama
Directed by	Matthias De Groof
Edited by	Matthias de Groof, Sebastien Demeffe
Production company	Cobra Films
Release date	2018
Running time	34 minutes
Country	Belgium

Plot

The term "diorama" literally means "through that which is seen". It acts as a window that attempts to depict life as truthfully as possible.

The film takes place during the renovations of the Belgian colonial museum. One of the notable instances in this change is when the museum staff destroys the dioramas they have maintained for decades. This destruction serves as an allegory of museological and ecological relations, destroying not only the dioramas but also a colonial worldview.

Production

The film was produced by production company Cobra films. Editing was done by Matthias de Groof and Sebastien Demeffe. Diorama was filmed at the Royal Museum for Central Africa and was completed on 1 April 2018.

Lobi Kuna (The day before yesterday/day after tomorrow)

"Lobi Kuna" is a film directed by Matthias de Groof, a filmmaker and academic who has made previous works on colonialism. The film tells the story from the perspective of photographer Mekhar Kiyoso, who finds himself at the Royal Museum for Central Africa for a photo shoot. His gaze is soon disturbed when, through his lens, he views the macabre museum as a mausoleum of his cultural heritage. As he becomes possessed by the artefacts, he remembers that he has become estranged from them.

Lobi Kuna: The Day Before Yesterday/The Day After Tomorrow
Directed by	Matthias De Groof
Written by	Mehkar Azari Kiyoso and Matthias De Groof
Starring	Mohamed Boujarra, Francis Mampuya, Bart Maris, Jean Katambayi Mukendi, Mekhar Azari Kiyoso, Kjell Bracke
Edited by	Sebastien Demeffe and Kwinten Gernay
Music by	Pol van Laer
Production companies	Cobra Films, Mutotu Films and l'Atelier Graphoui
Release date	2010
Running time	45 minutes
Countries	Belgium and D.R. Congo
Language	French

Plot

Photographer Mekhar Kiyoso is at the Africa Museum for a standard photo shoot. However, his perspective becomes disturbed when, through his lens, he sees the macabre museum as a mausoleum of his cultural heritage. As he gradually becomes possessed by this, his thoughts remind him of his alienation from his heritage. "Lobi Kuna", which means both the day after tomorrow and the day before yesterday in Lingala, tells the story of his embracing the past to project himself into the future, this while the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren undergoes a metamorphosis due to renovations.

Production

"Lobi Kuna" was produced by several production houses. Cobra films was mainly responsible, but the production houses l'Atelier Graphoui and Mutotu Films also contributed to the project as co-producers. Financing was co-sponsored by the Flemish Audiovisual Fund.[11] Shooting took place both in Belgium and in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Awards

Lobi Kuna won the "Best Experimental Film" award at the Brussels Independent Film Festival.