»Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat« by Johan Grimonprez, coproduced by ZKM | Karlsruhe, has been nominated for an Oscar® for Best Documentary Feature Film.
Johan Grimonprez's essay film focuses on the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Congo. It examines the connections between jazz music, geopolitical tensions, and colonial power dynamics during the Cold War. Through a skillful montage of archival footage, personal videos, and Lumumba's speeches, Grimonprez interweaves the stories of jazz legends like Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. The result is an unflinching look at colonial exploitation and the enduring impact of historical injustices.
Oscars® Nominees - Best Documentary Feature Film
Coming soon at ZKM:
Johan Grimonprez. All Memory is Theft
June 7, 2025 – February 2, 2026
The exhibition offers a comprehensive retrospective of the Belgian filmmaker and media artist Johan Grimonprez. His diverse work explores the boundaries of today’s media landscape with an almost archaeological approach. Grimonprez combines fragments from films, TV news, advertisements, cinema, amateur footage, and the internet to craft new narratives that challenge our perception of reality.