Free Political Film Screenings Cinema Politica is a project organized by Montréal-based non-profit überculture, and comprises a network of several local film exhibition series across Canada, Europe and the USA.

Sweet Crude

A story about survival, corruption, greed and armed resistance in Nigeria's Niger Delta.

Sandy Cioffi/ USA/ 2009/ 93 min.

Beginning with the filmmaker’s initial trip to
document the building of a library in a remote village, Sweet Crude is
a journey of multilayered revelation and ever-deepening questions. It’s about one
place in one moment, with themes that echo many places throughout
history. Sweet Crude shows the humanity behind the statistics, events
and highly sensationalized media portrayal of the region. Set against a
stunning backdrop of Niger Delta footage, the film gives voice to the
region’s complex mix of stakeholders and invites the audience to learn
the deeper story.

The issues are local and human, yet they
have far-reaching political, environmental and economic implications.
It’s a powder-keg situation that affects the daily lives and futures of
the people who live there. Left unchecked, its consequences will be
felt around the globe. Yet barely anyone outside the Delta knows what’s
really happening.

Why do we care enough to make this movie?
Because raising awareness just might be the tipping point it takes to
head off civil war. Because the kids of the Delta deserve a future.
Because what happens in Nigeria ripples through African political
stability and global economic markets. Because Nigeria produces more
than 10 percent of the U.S. oil supply. Ultimately, the events
unfolding in the Niger Delta affect us all.

It will take a
vigilant world community to advocate for nonviolent political
solutions. With this independent documentary, we take a stand for a
more truthful conversation, with the hope that a more educated public
will hold governments and big oil accountable to peaceful and just
resolution.