Rwanda’s mountain gorilla documentary premieres globally on Netflix

April 17, 2026

Kigali, Rwanda – Friday, 17 April 2026 — A landmark documentary on Rwanda’s mountain gorillas, produced by Silverback Films in collaboration with Appian Way Productions, the environmental production company founded by actor Leonardo DiCaprio, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, is now available globally on Netflix as of 17 April 2026.

The feature length documentary ‘A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough’ presents a detailed account of mountain gorilla behaviour, social structure, and lineage through the story of Pablo’s gorilla family. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, the film builds on his longstanding connection to Rwanda’s mountain gorillas, dating back to his 1978 visit to Volcanoes National Park, where he encountered Pablo as an infant.

Filming took place in Volcanoes National Park over an extended period, enabling the production team to capture rare insights into gorilla behavioural dynamics, social interactions, and generational continuity, contributing to the depth and authenticity of the film.

Irène Murerwa, Chief Tourism Officer at the Rwanda Development Board, said:


“Over the past two decades, Rwanda has made consistent progress in protecting and growing its mountain gorilla population through a conservation model that prioritises community partnership, sustainability, and long-term investment. This documentary provides an opportunity to share that story with global audiences in a way that reflects both the science and the human effort behind it.

We were pleased to work with Silverback Films and Appian Way Productions in bringing this production to Rwanda, which not only highlights our conservation journey but also contributed to the local tourism value chain and supported knowledge exchange within Rwanda’s creative sector.”

Beyond its conservation focus, the production contributed to Rwanda’s tourism value chain using local services, including accommodation, transport, guiding, and permits. The project also engaged Rwandan creatives and filmmakers, supporting skills development and knowledge exchange through participation in production and workshops facilitated by the Rwanda Film Office.

A London cinematic screening is scheduled for 21 April 2026, bringing together stakeholders from conservation, media, and creative industries, with Rwanda’s conservation story at the centre of the event.

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About the Rwanda Development Board (RDB)

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is a government agency with a vision to transform Rwanda into a dynamic global hub for business, investment, and innovation. Its mission is to fast-track economic development in Rwanda by enabling private sector growth. Learn more about the Rwanda Development Board at www.rdb.rw.

About Silverback Films

Silverback Films is a world-leading producer of natural history films for television and cinema. Founded in 2012 by Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey, the company brings together an exceptional team of wildlife filmmakers behind some of the most successful titles ever created, including Our Planet and David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (Netflix), Parenthood, Wild IslesThe Hunt and The Mating Game (BBC), eight Disneynature features (Disney+), and most recently Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story, Ocean with David Attenborough (National Geographic) and The Dinosaurs (Netflix), 

Combining cinematic storytelling with world-class filmmaking, Silverback creates ambitious productions that both captivate global audiences and highlight the urgent environmental challenges facing our planet. Based in Bristol, the global heart of natural history filmmaking, Silverback Films is part of the All3Media Group.