Rwanda’s Film Industry takes a step forward with support of 33 projects
Kigali, Rwanda – 31, January 2023 – Rwanda Development Board in partnership with the Rwanda Film Office is pleased to announce the winners of the first Call for Projects in support of the audiovisual sector launched in September 2022.
A total of 33 film and series projects in early development (pitch, writing, rewriting) and in production phase (fiction, documentary, short films) will be supported to a tune of over Rwf184 million.
To give more visibility to already finished films, a Promotion Support has also been granted.
The selection was made based on several assessments by local and international experts in the sector to ensure transparency and wide perspective.
Of the 8 projects submitted by women, 7 have been selected.
Submitted projects mainly explore broad themes of family, work, youth, love, ancient history and the genocide against the Tutsi.
“We remain committed to fostering the development of this vital industry which plays a crucial role in driving our nation’s economic prosperity and cultural identity. I have no doubt that the selected projects will have a significant impact on the budding audio-visual sector in Rwanda,” said RDB CEO, Clare Akamanzi.
The Audiovisual Sector has been an important area of Rwandan-German cooperation for many years. Joint development initiatives provided structural support to the establishment of the Rwanda Film Office, organised several workshops, training opportunities, and travels for filmmakers.
Commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH continues this successful collaboration and partners with the Rwanda Development Board for this Call for Projects – a significant milestone towards the common goal of establishing a Rwanda Film Fund.
“Our congratulations go out to all laureates. As a proud partner of this first Call for Projects, we are thrilled by the diversity of stories submitted by young, independent filmmakers. It is time to bring them from paper to screen, strengthening the audiovisual sector in Rwanda,” said Victor Chudal-Linden, GIZ Head of Project: Education and Training of Media Professionals in Africa.
Additionally, the Rwanda Development Board, through a partnership with OIF (Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie) benefitted from funds from the ACP-EU Culture programme. Implemented by the Organisation of the ACP States and funded by the European Union, the ACP-EU towards a viable cultural industry programme intends to boost the potential of the cultural and creative sector and its contribution to the social and economic development of the ACP countries.
“The Rwanda Development Board and its team successfully took on this huge challenge of setting up a round of Film funding within a year. We are proud of such partnership and looking forward to the next chapter of our collaboration,” according to the Film Unit at OIF (A. Bahri, P. Barrot &
E. Chiesa).
LAUREATES
COPRODUCTION SUPPORT – CLAP ACP2
- “Benimana (les enfants de Dieux)” by Marie Clémentine Dusabejambo
PRODUCTION SUPPORT – FICTION
- “Kigali 21” by Kagabo Nkubiri
PRODUCTION SUPPORT – DOCUMENTARY
- ” Untitled project” by Kivu Ruhorahoza
SHORT FILM PRODUCTION SUPPORT
- “Nyiragitwa Daughter of Sacyega” by Fiston Mudacumura
- “The Wicked Boss“ by Kagorora Benjamin
PROMOTION SUPPORT
- “I Bwiza“ by Clemence Nahimana & Emmanuel Nturanyenabo
REWRITING DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT
- “Exodus” by Yuhi Amuli
- “Home” by Ndayishimiye Denis Valery
WRITING SUPPORT
- “Tears” by Ganza Moise
- “Isano (Relative)” by Venant Nsengiyumva
- “Who Is Who” by Emmanuel Nturanyenabo
- “Punching Bag” by Idriss Gasana Byiringiro.
- “Stuck” by Odile Uwera Nyirandegeya
- “La Competition” by Emmanuel Iradukunda
- “Going back Home” by Reagan Andrew Manzi
- “Namaraso Amwe (The same Blood)” by Muniru Habiyakare;
- “Uwarenganye (Victim)” by Teta Shainazi Nkunsi
- “Igiceri (Coin)” by Issa Rurangwa.
DOCU-WRITING & RESEARCH SUPPORT
- “Moba : Trace of King Yuhi V Musinga” by John Kwezi
- “Win a heart of a legend” by Claudine Ndimbira Shenge
- “My Identity” by Jeanette Ishimwe
- “Qui est mon Père” by Eric Mutuyimana.
- “Home of Darkness” by Issa Rurangwa
- “Zahabu Ihishwe” (Chicest Trash) by Clémence Nahimana
- “Commune rouge” by Dieudonné Habimana PITCH SUPPORT
- “The sundown” by Ishimwe Theophile
- “Dark Hope” by Rukungira Shema Olivier
- “A Woman who became a Man” by Alli Ntatsikira
- “Association a catalyst for development” by Tuyishime Jason
- “Might Rwanda” by Mutesi Francoise
- “Maribori” by Bakunzi Dusabimana
- “Caci guitar” by Ishimwe Theophile
- “Nyiraneza” by Habarurema Jean Paul
ENDS
For RDB media inquiries, please contact: Doreen Ingabire, Head of Communications
For Rwanda Film Office media inquiries, please contact: Christian Rudahinyuka, Program Manager at SPIU
Tel +250 788 312 125
About Rwanda Development Board
Rwanda Development Board is a government agency responsible for leading the country’s transformation to a dynamic global hub for business, investment, tourism and innovation. Its mission is to fast track economic development in Rwanda by enabling private sector growth. For more information visit www.rdb.rw
About Rwanda Film Office
The Rwanda Film Office (RFO) initiative was launched in 2019 under the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), with the goal of centralising services related to the audiovisual and film industry and supporting stakeholders in enhancing their operational capacities. The RFO initiative aligns with Rwanda’s ambition to become a leading continental film destination, and is aimed at establishing a Film Fund that will drive the development of film projects and attract international productions to Rwanda. For more information visit www.rfo.rw
About GIZ
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) is a German development agency operating in over 120 countries, including Rwanda for over 40 years. It partners with national governments, private sector, civil society organisations and research institutions to deliver sustainable solutions and improve living conditions. In Rwanda, GIZ focuses on economic development, governance and democracy, and digitalization by reducing unemployment, building a well-organised civil society, and transitioning to a digital knowledge and service society. For more information visit www.giz.de
About OIF (Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie)
The Francophonie refers to men and women who share a common language: French. It is an institution, dedicated since 1970 to promoting cultural and linguistic diversity as well as political, educational, economic and cultural cooperation among the 88 member countries of the Organisation internationale of la Francophonie (OIF). www.francophonie.org
