Rwanda (Kwetu) Film Institute, in partnership with German Development Cooperation, have announced plans to set up the Rwanda Media Project (RMP), an initiative aimed at helping transform the country’s media industry.

Speaking at a news briefing on Saturday, Eric Kabera, the founder of the Rwanda film Institute, said the project, set to start in July, aims at developing  Rwanda’s media sector.

"The project aims at making film and TV business an important economic sector in the country,” Kabera said.

The RMP is financed by the German Federal Ministry and Economic Development and Cooperation.

Kabera said the project is part of a two-year "media designer” diploma course at Kwetu Media School in line with the national progmmme of equipping the youth with technical skills for self-reliance.

"The RMP will provide technical vocational and educational training (TVET), skills for young media professionals,” he said.

The programme targets 15 students per year. Every student will be asked to pay Rwf0.7 million annually.

The course will engross; script development, project development, shooting and postproduction, marketing and distribution, among                                                            others.

It will see media students have local training and, later, on-the-job training in Rwanda and Germany.

The project was initiated by Oscar winning movie director Volker schloendorff, who is a long term supporter of Rwanda’s film industry.

It will be facilitated by media experts, including, Prof. Klaus Keil of the University of Film-Konrad wolff and Eva Kemme, all from Germany.