Kabera pioneering first film industry

“Something must be done to improve film industry in the country,” Eric Kabera begins in an interview last week. Kabera is a Rwandan movie producer and the director of Rwanda Cinema Centre. The Rwanda Cinema Centre in corroboration with Philip Rosenthal, Monica Rosenthal and Jon Turfeltavb of Hollywood America is opening soon a film centre in Gacuriro to train Rwandans in producing educative films and how to become better actors.

Sunday, August 31, 2008
Rwanda Cinema Centre director: Earning a living through making films.

"Something must be done to improve film industry in the country,” Eric Kabera begins in an interview last week. Kabera is a Rwandan movie producer and the director of Rwanda Cinema Centre.

The Rwanda Cinema Centre in corroboration with Philip Rosenthal, Monica Rosenthal and Jon Turfeltavb of Hollywood America is opening soon a film centre in Gacuriro to train Rwandans in producing educative films and how to become better actors.

Kabera says the centre will help Rwandans to maker better and informative films based on the country’s reality. Kabera says the construction of the centre will cost about Frw500 million. He says the training will help Rwandans on how one can earn a living out of producing films or acting in the movie.

"Rwandans must be innovative and creative. Some films are not portraying our culture well,” Kabera explains.

The Centre has already produced movies that include one hundred days, keepers of memories and "Igare ry’Alphonse”.

"We shall also be making documentaries, feature and wildlife films. Falici Museminari is passionate about films but she says sometimes, film producers leave a lot to be desired.

"We need relevant films to educate Rwandans,” Museminari says.

He explains that basing on the country’s turbulent history; many have tried to teach people through writing books but sometimes without success. Films can be good depending on the intentions of the producers.

"I am very happy about the up-coming cinema centre because when the centre produces movies that portray Rwandan culture and her history in a positive line, it will show the rest of the world our identity the way Nigerians are doing it nowadays,” Museminari explained.

Dophrose Umurerwa is a film shop attendant in Kabeeza. He says that many countries that involve in film producing earn good money because the market for films especially those depicting the true image of Africans are on market.

"Look at how Nigerian films have dominated almost all African countries and you can also imagine how much the country is earning out of it. So, with this development and Rwanda being a virgin country as far as film industry is concern, I expect much out of it” she said.

Kabera added that during the training period, the centre will not only focus on developmental films but it will also sensitise and warn Rwandans against watching immoral films.

Ends