HUYE - The National University of Rwanda (NUR) in partnership with the Swedish International Development Agency has awarded cash prizes to students who participated in a documentary film-making competition.

The competition attracted 18 contestants with the winner walking away with Rwf500, 000 as top prize.
In his speech, the Rector Prof. Silas Lwakabamba, who officiated at the awarding ceremony, said that the competition was a clear indication of the university’s  contribution towards the development of the country’s budding film industry.

Lwakabamba, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to the film industry through  transfer of knowledge into the industry through its audio-visual teaching system which he said had a potential of reaching  out to the larger community.

"The labour market is steadily being seen to be getting narrower both in public and private sector with time. Entrepreneurship provides a good avenue of absorption of those coming out of our institutions of higher learning especially if such graduates are offered qualitative education that enhances creativity and innovation,” he said.

He added that the documentary films produced by the students which centred on the daily life of students will reflect the reality about the institution, and allay the negative publicity about the university.

Dr. Evode Mukama, the contest organizer disclosed during the ceremony that the university would soon launch a well-equipped studio to strengthen film-making industry.

"Supporting young talented film-makers remains our chief goal. All the way through we have had enough experience and we look forward to shift from documentary to fictional
films,” Mukama told The New Times.

Dieudonée Gahizi Ganza, who directed the winning documentary film entitled ‘A day in the life of a blind student at NUR’ said the contest offered an opportunity for students to perfect their talent.

The film industry, the winner observed , is still young in Rwanda, university students and other young talented people should start to think of their future through film-making business.

"It should not remain a dream but a reality. I had to work restlessly for my documentary to win the competition. I hope to achieve more than this in film production industry.”

Ends