FILMMAKERS have started to submit their works that they believe can challenge for prizes at the forthcoming Rwanda international Movie Awards (RIMA) 2021.

The awards, which are in their eighth edition locally and the second edition since they went international in 2019, are slated for March 5, next year.

Organised by Ishusho Arts since 2011, a local organisation that focuses on cinema activities, the annual event recognises the finest films produced by Rwandan and foreign movie producers.

This year’s edition will see the increase in prize expected, with organisers set to recognize outstanding filmmakers in 32 categories, up from 23 given out during the seventh edition two years ago.

Among the categories added in the awards include the Best Child Actor, and Best Child Actress which were initiated to motivate children as well as Best Cultural content, a prize that will be given out to a filmmaker whose content promotes culture, among others.

The latter also goes in line with this year’s awards theme "Inclusion of My Culture into the Audio-Visual Industry” as an occasion to encourage cultural promotion in the film industry.

"We believe we have a rich culture that should not be left out but rather included and positioned to influence and impact the Audio-Visual Industry,” said Jackson Mucyo, the CEO of Ishusho which normally organises the annual awards.

While trophies are lined-up for every award winner, the winners in the ‘Best Choice Actor’ and ‘Best Choice Actress’ of the year award winners will see themselves tussling out for a car, the grand prize in this year’s awards.

The car prize will go to one with the highest number of votes between the two while the second will be given a cheque worth a yet-to-communicated amount which is less the value of the car given to the winner.

"We thought of rewarding a car to the best actor or actress of the year as a gesture to acknowledge their outstanding job done throughout the year,” said Mucyo.

"Our feeling, however, is that filmmakers deserve more than that given the incredible work they do to help us push this industry to another level. This time we increased the categories and there is hope that more prizes will come in the future,” he added.

Submission for entries kicked off on Monday, December 20, and filmmakers have a month to submit their works via www.rimaward.org.  

On February 4, a gala night will be held to unveil nominations in different categories.

The Rwanda Movie Week will follow a day after the nominations unveiling gala night till the eve of the awards giving gala on March 4, as an opportunity for filmmakers to reflect on the state of the local film industry and what the future has in store for it.

Award will be given out considering both 2020 and 2021 as organisers aim  to recognize filmmakers who have been outstanding during the past two years because the awards had not been given out last year due to the inconveniences of covid-19.