Gwen Le Gouil

Gwenlaouen Le Gouil, also known as Gwen Le Gouil (c. 1975), is a French freelance camera operator for Arte in France. He is known for his award-winning video about the killing of humanitarian workers in Sri Lanka and for being kidnapped in Somalia while filming a documentary on human trafficking.

Le Gouil was awarded with the Albert Londres Prize in 2007 for Muttur: un crime contre l'humanitaire, a video about the killings of humanitarian workers in Sri Lanka.

Personal life Gwenlaouen Le Gouil, also referred to as Gwen Le Gouil, was born about 1975 in Lorient, France. Throughout his childhood, Le Gouil was raised in Bénodet, France. His parents, both former teachers, who continue to reside in Quimper, France. While in school, Le Gouil studied history and journalism, where he would soon begin his career in the communication field. In 2007, Le Gouil was awarded the Albert Londres Award, along with Fabrice Launay and Anne Poiret, for their film called "Mutter, a crime against humanitarians," which was based in Sri Lanka, Asia.

Today, Le Gouil, along with the rest of his production company, continues to manage Cargo Culte Productions and to create documentaries that reveal those "grey areas" of the world. Le Gouil was then moved from the Bosaso region to a mountainous area east of the country, In order to release Le Gouil, the kidnappers supposedly wanted $70,000 from the government. Eight days later, on December 24, Le Gouil was finally released to two elders, who were from the same clan as the kidnappers. Supposedly no money was taken in exchange for Le Gouil’s freedom. When set free, he was reported to be in good health with no major injuries. Soon after his release, the elders took Le Gouil to the Puntland ministers who would return Le Gouil to French diplomats in a hotel in Bosaso.

When released from captivity, Le Gouil was criticized by Puntland’s president for not informing the government of his plan to work in the area of Bosaso on a documentary film. During an interview two years after his kidnapping, Le Gouil stated how he thinks about the people he met in Somalia on regular basis, but he is unable to return into the country because, should something happen to him, he would lose all credibility. He hopes to one day revisit the country and do more journalistic work.

Awards In 2007, Le Gouil was awarded the Albert Londres Prize due to his documentary in Sri Lanka. In 2008, Le Gouil received the "Best Report Award" at a Festival in Italy for his documentary "Somalia: leave or die." Le Gouil was also awarded the "Best Investigation" award for his broadcast on Arte for "Poor Whites" at the Scoop Festival in Angers, France. Also at this event, he received the "Young Reporter Award".