Three American documentary filmmakers have been in the country to mentor local film students and support the Rwanda’s film industry, "Hillywood”.

The Washington-based film crew left today (Wednesday), after their third visit in the country.

"We’ve finished shooting a documentary feature about filmmakers in Rwanda and the Hillywood film festival. The film will be launched next year,” the Executive Producer of Film Festival: Rwanda, Leah Warshawski said.

"Our focus is more about the filmmakers. Why they’re passionate about film, what they do, and how they got into Hillywood to show film in Kinyarwanda to the local population.”

Warshawski added that the project started in 2007, when Chris Towey, the director of photographer, and her visited Rwanda for the first time.

"We’ve local filmmakers, who are kind of our internees that help us whenever we come to Rwanda. So, we’ve Rwandans who’re part of our film crew.”

The project also helps to train film students. Whenever Warshawski and her crew are in the country working on film documentary, they hire locals, thus provide them with skills, and pay.

Commenting about the challenges, Towey said; "Of course Rwanda’s film industry is just beginning.  We come in with a lot of knowledge and give in as much knowledge as we can.”

However, Towey said Rwanda’s film industry has the potential to develop, because there are many Rwandans who are great storytellers, and talented filmmakers.

Apart mentoring, the project donates film equipments; including computers to the individuals they work with, and to the Rwanda Cinema Centre.

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