I'm New Here
Dir. Bram Van Paesschen
Documentary, 2017, 92 min.
Swahili, Lingala, French, Cantonese, Mandarin & English, w/ English subtitles

For many years, Guangzhou, China has been the Eldorado for African migrants, who chase their fortune shipping cheap Chinese goods back to their home countries. I'm New Here is a rare glimpse into the lives of Congolese entrepreneurs residing in Tian Xiu, a massive communist-style apartment building that has become the landing strip for Africans in China. Some of the entrepreneurs adapt quickly, learning the language, building relationships, and earning quick money. Others are not so lucky -- left empty-handed by constantly changing laws, miscommunications, and outright racism. I'm New Here is a poignant human portrait of the expanding economic relationship between China and the African continent.

Congo in Harlem is a showcase of films, exhibits, panel discussions and special events focused on the history, politics, and culture of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.