What if the cellphone you own makes you an accomplice to a crime? BLOOD IN THE MOBILE is the story of how our phones are connected to illegal mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The DRC is a country rich in natural resources such as gold, diamonds, coltan, rubber and cassiterite. Instead of creating wealth for the nation, these minerals have fuelled a bloody war which has seen the death of five million people and the rape of an estimated 300 000 women. BLOOD IN THE MOBILE focuses on cassiterite, which is used in the production of electronic devices, including cell-phones.
With access to Congo's largest tin-mine in Bisie, director Frank Poulsen journeys through some of the frightening conditions involved in the mining of cassiterite, including child labour, prostitution of underage girls and frequent deaths caused by collapsing mineshafts. Not only do these minerals end up in our phones, but the profits made from them continue to finance the war in the region.

Denmark, Germany 2010, Danish, English and Lingala with English subtitles, DigiBeta PAL, 82 min

Director: Frank Piasecki Poulsen
Cinematographer: Adam Wallensten, Frank Piasecki Poulsen, Lars Skree

Print Source: Danish Film Institute: Festival


The documentary film BLOOD IN THE MOBILE (BLOD I MOBILEN), premiered in September 2010.

produced by Koncern TV- og Filmproduktion, Denmark,
in co-production with Chili Film, Denmark and Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion, Germany.

The film is supported by DANIDA, MEDIA and the Danish Film Institute. The film has been or will be broadcasted in Denmark (DR), Germany (WDR), France (Arte), Finland (YLE), Norway (NRK), Ireland (TG4), Hungary (Duna TV), Greece (ERT), Spain, Czech Republic, Portugal, Poland, England, USA and Israel (DBS).

The film premiered in Denmark on September 1st 2010.
The film premiered internationally at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam on November 23rd 2010: www.idfa.nl
The film premiered on German Television, WDR, on November 29th 2010, and will be shown again on February 28th 2011 at 7.20 on WDR.
The film won the Cinema for Peace Justice Award in Berlin on February 14th 2011: www.cinemaforpeace.com
Sneak-view at True False Film Fest on March 5 2011: http://truefalse.org/program/films
Czech Premiere at One World Human Rights Film Festival on March 11: http://oneworld.cz/2011/films-a-z/19343-blood-in-the-mobile
The film was selected for Movies That Matter Film Festival in Haag, Holland, screening late March: http://www.moviesthatmatterfestival.nl/english_index/programma_en/film_en/460
The film is selected for Hot Docs in Toronto: www.hotdocs.ca, screenings May 4 and May 6 2011.
The film is selected for INPUT 2011 in Seoul, South Korea: http://www.input2011.org/, screening May 2011.