Togo: RSF welcomes provisional release of Gaël Mocaër, Sebastian Perez Pezzani and Fred Vedomey

French filmmakers Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani and their Togolese colleague Fred Vedomey were placed in pre-trial detention in Lomé, the Togolese capital, on 17 August on charges of making "false statements" relating to the administrative authorisations required. Deprived of their liberty since 27 July, the media professionals had been filming an episode of "Les Routes de l'impossible" (Impossible Journeys), a documentary series broadcast by France Télévisions.

Produced by Tony Comiti Productions, Les Routes de l'impossible'" is a travel and discovery programme broadcast since 2007 that showcases local cultures worldwide through the daily lives of the people living there. It is watched by thousands of viewers. Gaël Mocaër, Sebastian Perez Pezzani and their Togolese colleague Fred Vedomey were filming an episode of the programme in the Kara region of northern Togo after they obtained a filming authorisation in advance, and they never concealed the professional nature of their visit, which they had declared.

Dedicated professionals

Sebastian and Gaël, both 54, are two experienced filmmakers who have known each other for more than 30 years. A writer, director, cinematographer and chief editor, Gaël Mocaër, who spent part of his childhood in Africa, has been making documentaries for French television and cinema for more than 20 years, several of which have won awards. He has worked with broadcasters including France Télévisions, Arte, Canal+, Ushuaïa TV, and Planète. His work has taken him across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Whether filming communities affected by conflict or people working in extreme conditions, he has always placed individuals and their stories at the heart of his work.

Sebastian Perez Pezzani shares Gaël's vision of a profession rooted in listening to others and conveying their stories. Born in Uruguay in 1972, he moved to France at the age of five and met Gaël in the 1990s while they were studying for an audiovisual production diploma in Bayonne. They subsequently directed several episodes of the documentary series Caméléon for 13e Rue (NBCUniversal), filming from El Salvador to Mozambique and from Madagascar to Bolivia. Sebastian has also directed programmes for Tracks on Arte and Les Nouveaux Explorateurs on Canal+. Ten years ago, he was already filming in Mozambique for "Les Routes de l'impossible", directing the episode "La vie plus forte que tout" ("Life Stronger Than Anything").

Fred Vedomey - whose legal name is Vedomey Komi Mawufemo - is 39 and spent several months preparing for Gaël and Sebastian's arrival in Togo, working as their fixer, producer, and director. Born in the Plateaux Region and multilingual - speaking French, English, Ewe, and Twi - he has worked in the profession for 15 years. Thanks to his expertise and in-depth knowledge of the country, he has previously worked with several documentary film crews from Switzerland, the United States, and France.