The gangster thriller will be released in 18 African countries, starting in the Democratic Republic of Congo where the film was shot.

Djo Munga’s Viva Riva! is to be distributed in West Africa by 234 Media.

The gangster thriller, one of the first features in decades to shoot in the Democrat Republic of Congo (DCR), has already been picked up by Indigenous Film Distribution in South and East Africa.

It means that the film will be released in 18 African countries, starting in Kinshasa in the DCR, going on to South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Uganda, Lesotho and Swaziland, before being rolled out to West Africa and Central Africa.

The film, which proved a hit at Toronto in 2010, was released in the US in June via Music Box. International sales are being handled by Beta Cinema.