Angelina Jolie Boards ‘Muganga, The One Who Treats’ as Producer (EXCLUSIVE)

Oscar winner and advocate Angelina Jolie has signed on to the producing team of “Muganga, The One Who Treats,” which is inspired by the true story of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege and the plight of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence globally, particularly the women he champions in Eastern Congo.

Jolie, who first met survivors of rape in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2013, has known and worked alongside Dr. Mukwege for over a decade, campaigning for an end to impunity for the use of rape and sexual violence as weapons of war. Mukwege, Jolie notes has treated tens of thousands of survivors of rape, despite attacks on his life, for decades.

In a statement, Jolie saluted Dr. Mukwege for his work on behalf of women and children in his country, calling him “a healer of minds and bodies,” and described “Muganga, The One Who Treats” as “an urgent and powerful film.”

“I am honored to join the film’s team in amplifying the voices of Congolese survivors and the essential work of Dr. Denis Mukwege, one of the greatest advocates of our time, fighting to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in the DRC and globally,” Jolie said.

“Muganga, The One Who Treats,” which will be released in France on September 24, is produced by Cynthia Pinet (for Petites Poupées Production) and directed by Marie-Hélène Roux from a script she co-wrote with Jean-René Lemoine. Filmed on location in Gabon, Cesar-winning actor Isaach De Bankolé stars as Dr. Mukwege, leading an ensemble cast that also includes Vincent Macaigne, Manon Bresch, Babetida Sadjo and Déborah Lukumuena. The movie recently won three Valois awards at the Angoulême Film Festival in France, including the prestigious audience award, the youth award, and best actor for De Bankolé.

The project was more than a decade in the making, Pinet said in a statement, but the filmmakers persevered in order to “bring to the screen a reality too often silenced: that of Congolese women.”

“Despite the obstacles, together with director Marie-Hélène Roux, we devoted all our energy to amplifying the voices of survivors and Dr. Denis Mukwege, creating a space where their courage and resilience could be shown with dignity,” the producer explained. “‘Muganga, The One Who Treats’ is not a story of pain, but of hope, healing, and the extraordinary strength of human beings to rise again.”

About Jolie’s involvement in the project, Pinet added: “For years, she has been one of Hollywood’s most committed voices for human rights, tirelessly ensuring that women and children victims of violence are heard. Her engagement is strong and sincere, and her presence affirms that ‘Muganga, The One Who Treats’ transcends borders, speaks to our shared humanity, and carries the conviction that has driven me for more than a decade — that art can be a force for justice and healing.”

Roux similarly thanked Jolie, who she described as “one of the world’s most talented artists and committed activists,” for recognizing both the film’s urgent subject matter and its artistic vision.

“From the start, ‘Muganga’ has been a cinematic journey built on bold choices — not a biopic, but a moment in time where art and activism unite,” Roux said. “With Angelina Jolie joining as a producer, the film gains a voice that strengthens its reach and purpose. I remember standing in Panzi Hospital, looking at the women lying in bed, their eyes filled with hope as they listened to Dr. Mukwege say: ‘She is making a film so that the world will not forget you.’ With Angelina Jolie by our side, I believe more than ever that I can keep that promise.”

[Pictured above: Angelina Jolie and Isaach De Bankolé as Dr. Mukwege in “Muganga, the One Who Treats.”]