The Tree of Authenticity (L'arbre de l'authenticité, Sammy Baloji, 2025)

This documentary film invites viewers into an extraordinary visual experience exploring how environmental science and colonial history intersect in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Director Sammy Baloji guides audiences through the abandoned Yangambi INERA research station, once one of the world's largest tropical research centers, using experimental filmmaking to weave together stories of nature and the past. The film works best for teens and adults interested in documentary cinema, world history, or environmental topics. Expect a thoughtful, artistic presentation rather than a conventional lecture—this is cinema designed to provoke reflection and conversation. The screening takes place at the Wexner Center Film/Video Theater, which specializes in independent and experimental work.