Richard Mugwaneza is one of the founders of Almond Tree Films, a production company located in the Samuduha neighbourhood of Kigali. Over the last seven years, he has worked on a number of local and international projects in filmmaking.However, it was not until after conducting a successful ‘Sample of Work’ project that his name came in the limelight. The training project realised ten quality short films. Joseph Njata caught up with the film director in Kigali. Below are excerpts:Q: What inspired you into filmmaking?A: I was inspired by the opportunities that this domain offers to people to create, criticise and express one's ideas.Q: How far have you gone in filmmaking?A: So far I have directed three fictional short films and a couple of feature films. I have produced about 15 short and mid-length films and edited ten short films. Most importantly, I have also mentored a number of people.Q: What are some of your major achievements in filmmaking?A: I am glad my films have screened both locally and internationally, some attracted awards and distribution contracts. Most importantly, my project to impart knowledge to upcoming Rwandan filmmakers to produce their films and distribute them, have been a success since the year 2011.Q: You recently pitched a film project in the Durban Talent Campus, how did it go?A: Yeah! My fiction film idea ‘Foggy Village’ attracted producers and I am now working on the script. I am also seeking for mentors and script doctors to start the development phase.Q: Talk briefly about ‘A sample of work’ project at Almond Tree Films?A: A Sample of Work is my main project at the moment. I always wanted to inspire upcoming Rwandan filmmakers to tell their stories. It involves training first time filmmakers and providing them with practical experience to producing their film projects.The project intends to distribute the content that these filmmakers will realise. As we speak, thirty filmmakers have been entrained where a record ten short films have been produced. This year alone, we have produced three mid-length films. The project aims at producing ten feature films by 2016. Q: How it did start and what inspired this idea?A: The idea was inspired by my positive future prospects in filmmaking. In 2010, I realised that, I was turning filmmaking into a career and I thought that, if all filmmakers did the same, people who want to be filmmakers won’t be afraid to embrace the career. This I believe would contribute to the economic growth as well as promotion of Rwandan culture. Q: How are films produced fairing in the festivals?A: Pretty well. We have won a number of awards; the short film ‘Ruhago’ was the best short film at the Rwanda Movie Award in 2012. It was also named for the best upcoming director during the Zanzibar International Film Festival in 2012. Another film, ‘Kivuto’ got a mention prize at the Rwanda Film Festival in 2012. This year, the film was declared the best short Film in the Rwanda Movie award.

Other short films have premiered in other different film festivals as the Afrika Film Festival in Belgium and FESTICAB in Burundi among others.Q: What is your advice to upcoming filmmakers?A: I would like to tell them not to panic but keep the spirit burning because the success is just around the corner.Q: What do you think is the main challenge in Rwandan filmmaking?A: I think funding is the main challenge to local filmmakers. Unlike in America and Europe, we don’t have funds where we can apply for support. Q: Where do you see yourself in five years time?A: I will be an established filmmaker who will have inspired a number of upcoming filmmakers in different projects.