Film enthusiasts and seasonal movie-goers thronged Kigali Serena Hotel’s auditorium on Sunday evening to witness the inauguration of the 11th edition of the Rwanda film festival.

Pan-Africanism is the centre theme for the two week-long festival. The event was graced by an entourage from the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF), a Los Angeles based festival that focuses on creative works of black artistes across the globe. PAFF facilitated the festival and participated in selecting 30 of the 60 movies that will be screened during the festival.

Produced by Ethiopian filmmaker Theodros Teshome Kebede, Triangle - Going to America, a film based on issues of immigration, was the opening night documentary.

Synopsis

Triangle, takes you on an emotional journey filled with laughter and tears—Kaleab and Jemal are willing to endure any danger to reach America and the promise of a better life. Along the way, Kaleab meets Winta, an Eritrean beauty who is also making the journey. Together, they travel an arduous and illegal path wrought with danger, exploitation and death from East and North Africa through Italy, Mexico and finally to the United States.

The 89-minute film stars Solomon Bogale and Mahder Assefa, two of the most famous actors in Ethiopia.

Asantewa Olatunji, the PAFF director of programming, said, "When I watch films of Africans migrating and the problems and the dangers of that emigration, even though I am an American, it affects me,” she said.

She added that the movie, Triangle - Going to America, helped her as an American to realise how the emigration rules and regulations affect people of African descent not just Hispanics.

"To be a Pan-African you have to be concerned about all people of African descent,” explained Asantewa.

Two local short documentaries; Rayisi by Patrick Nsabimana and Hora Mama, by Claudine Ndimbira were also screened. Rayis is about how Rayisi Kwizera rides a bike with one leg, his ability to ride a bike, and how he becomes a champion in cycling competition for the disabled. While Hora Mama is about a young mother who was forced into prostitution so that she could feed her children.

After the screening, an emotional Kebede pledged USD1000 to support the mother and her children. The Ethiopian movie producer urged people in the audience to do the same by supporting two inspirational stars.

Eric Kabera, chairperson of the RFF and the managing director of Kwetu Film Institute, the festival organizers, says the festival will show movies that help create awareness on how Africans can get together and solve their problems. "It isn’t just about entertainment but educational.”

Kabera’s documentary, Intore was among the movies screened at this year’s edition of the PAFF, in February.

Other key themes include: Human rights, which will be reflected in the festival closing movie, Selma by American director, Ave Duvernay.

The festival will also feature activities, such as master classes, training discussions, networking and mentorship programmes.

Taking place for 13 days, the festival’s screenings and events are at different venues in Kigali, from Kwetu Film Institute, Cine 7, Innovation Village, Kigali Genocide Memorial center, Umuhuza Park and Villa Porto Fino. Additional screenings will take place in Gicumbi, Musanze and Rwamagana.

The festival will run till July 31.