Society faces of the year 2010

Pierre Kayitana is a 24-year-old filmmaker who was nominated as the World Ambassador of Film Without Borders by the Royal Family in United Kingdom. Film Without Borders is a project headed by Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Friday, December 31, 2010
Pierre Kayitana (L): World Ambassador of Film Without Borders

Pierre Kayitana is a 24-year-old filmmaker who was nominated as the World Ambassador of Film Without Borders by the Royal Family in United Kingdom. Film Without Borders is a project headed by Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh.

As an ambassador, Kayitana is charged with ensuring that children around the world are involved in film making.The pilot countries in the project are Rwanda, Palestine and Israel.

Kayitana started his filmmaking career six years ago. He is currently the Director General of the Rwanda Cinema Centre (RCC) and the Rwanda Film Festival.

He said that throughout the years as a filmmaker, he has travelled around the world advocating for Rwanda’s film industry and in the process met great figures in the world of film.  One of the most respected filmmakers Kayitana has met is George Lucas —the maker of the Star Wars trilogy and Indiana Jones.

Kayitana had the opportunity of interacting with him in an exclusive interview live on CNN.

He said he was greatly inspired by George Lucas’ statement that, ‘you can make films unique in our own way, since you are one of the pioneers of the film industry.

Currently, Kayitana is making his own film called, ‘Return Ticket’—a short story about why several foreigners visiting the country stay behind.

"It will be ready in a couple of weeks,” he said.

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