THE RECENT URUSARO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN FILM FESTIVAL in Kigali, has shown how far Rwandan filmmakers can go when they play their part in the development of Rwanda’s film industry.

Produced by CinéFEMMES Rwanda, seventh edition of film festival held from October 4-11 brought together a number of filmmakers from over 10 countries across Africa to celebrate women in the film industry, especially through showcasing incredible talent in film.

Floriane Kaneza, the brain behind the festival, had a chat with The New Times as she reflected on her experience and lessons learnt from the festival and the place of a woman in Rwanda’s film industry.

What has been your experience from the just-concluded Urusaro International Women Film Festival?

This year’s edition was way different from the previous ones in so many aspects. We got the support, direct or indirect, from potential partners. And, those which weren’t ready to support this year, were at least able to follow the festival closely so that they enter a partnership with us next time.

The audience was also fair. The seats that we prepared at the festival venue were not empty because the audience was always there, especially during the screenings and I think we got the right and smart audience during our festival activities because the venue normally hosts people associated with cinema.

And, most importantly, we have seen filmmakers participating in different sessions that were on the festival agenda as they were able to share experiences with invited filmmakers from abroad on the development of the filmmaking industry, mainly the market of our films and the funding for their projects.

What lessons have you learnt from this year’s festival edition?

Pretty many lessons learnt.

I have learnt that it is time to cooperate and avoid separating forces. We should be bringing what we have on the same table if we are really committed to achieve big things for the interest of our industry.

We also learnt that, from the panel discussions held during the festival, we need to import more skills for our industry just like we do share our skills to filmmakers who come to participate at our festivals.

What is the place of women in the Rwandan film industry?

A woman has a special place in Rwandan cinema and there are instances supporting this.

One, when you look at the movies that took part in this year’s festival edition, for the first time in the festival’s history, all winning films were directed by women, not because it was in the criteria [that all prizes must go to women] but because the films that attracted the jury’s attention most were done by women. Hence, it was the jury’s choice.

Secondly, the number of women at international festivals is getting bigger. Women are growingly interested in venturing in cinema.

So it would be a big problem ignoring their presence in the industry but it would also be mad to say that their presence is commendable enough.

Their role must keep growing because cinema is all about complementarity.

At CinéFEMMES Rwanda, who strive for the development of a woman filmmaker in the industry, 70 percent of our beneficiaries are women and 30 percent are men.

We don’t have statistics supporting our take on how women are faring but I believe the numbers are promising, no matter how small or big they might be, and there are signs that their role will become more commendable given the opportunities, including film funds, international trainings and markets, coming on table to support the film industry.

In September, Rwanda Film Office announced a Rwf184 million budget to support filmmakers at various stages of production. What do you think will help the industry recovery efforts?

I will say this as a filmmaker. When an opportunity comes, you make the best out of it.

The first thing that we must celebrate is that the film fund finally exists, let alone how long it will take. But, honestly, I don’t have much to say about how successful it will be because it has never been there before.

My concern, which I think is for all filmmakers, is whether we will be able to make the best out of it. It’s up to us to make use of it accordingly, instead of allocating the funds elsewhere like some filmmakers do when they get funding.

It may grow bigger if we use it well or it may disappear if we mismanage it.

What are CinéFEMMES Rwanda’s aspirations for a woman in filmmaking?

CinéFEMMES Rwanda supports women with capacity building and other possible interventions so that they can join filmmaking.

We want to see women having access, possibility and visibility in terms of contributing to the development of the Rwandan film industry just like men do.

What major challenges have you experienced over the past seven editions?

The biggest challenge we have is lack of financing where potential partners have no trust or are hesitant to invest in women’s film projects.

I think it’s high time for partners to trust what we do and start investing in the film industry because it has the potential to generate huge returns like other sectors in the creative industry.

Where do you see Rwanda’s women filmmakers in the future?

The future is in their hands. When you look at how they are pushing through different departments of filmmaking, so far so good. But they don’t have to give up.

Being successful in this industry only depends on them, nobody else.