A highly acclaimed documentary on the remarkable Congolese group, Staff Benda Bilili will open at the TIFF Lightbox on Oct. 14. The film was the first documentary to ever open the Cannes Festival, where it received a standing ovation.

The group has achieved great international success in the last couple of years (but sadly hasn’t yet played Toronto). The members were all homeless street people living on the ground of the Kinshasha Zoo. Many of them are polio victims and perform in their customized wheelchairs.

Their story — and their music — is unique and moving. (Their name means “Don’t judge by appearances”).

Read a review of the documentary from the New York Times this week, and watch the film’s trailer here:

Details of the film screening and tickets at the Lightbox