“Body Team 12” was produced in Liberia in 2014 during the height of the Ebola outbreak.
Darg directed Operation Blessing’s efforts on the ground to set up the first chlorine production facility in that country’s history to help fight the Ebola outbreak.
The film chronicles a team of body collectors working with the Liberian Red Cross. The brave volunteers removed dead bodies from homes and villages, and in heart-wrenching scenes, they took the bodies to be burned to prevent the spread of the virus.
“Body Team 12” will be shown on HBO in early March.
Political activist Al Sharpton criticized the Academy Awards for not nominating blacks for Oscars but David Darg’s documentary features a true African star, Garmai Sumo. “Body Team 12” won the best doc at the Tribeca Film Festival and is nominated for an Academy Award in the February 28 ceremony
Movie star humanitarian Olivia Wilde helped to promote the film which was shot, written and directed by Darg and co-produced by Bryn Mooser who shares the nomination.
The film won for best short documentary at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival.
“I was astonished at the bravery of Liberia’s Ebola body teams, and in particular, Garma Sumo, the female body collector featured in Body Team 12,” Darg said in a statement. “I was immediately inspired by her fearlessness, determination and love for her community, and I knew I needed to tell this story as a tribute to this courage.”
Operation Blessing continues to work in Liberia, and the organization said the film has helped to raise $60,000 for its Ebola Orphan Program.
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