On Monday, Frederic Kristiansson’s documentary ‘Lioness’ premiered in Kamonyi District theatre in front of an audience of Genocide widows. The film, based on actual accounts of the survivors of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, weaves together the testimonies of widows whose lives cross paths during the Genocide.

"Lioness” will be broadcasted in 37 countries and will be screened in several festivals worldwide. It has been translated in six languages.

"We had to choose where the premiere would be held. Here, in this small Rwandan village, (is) where the women we’ve been working with since four years (back) are living. Those women to whom the movie Lioness belongs,” says Kristiansson.

The event, which started at 4pm, included performances by Ingoma Nshya women drummers.

"Lioness” narrates the testimonies of women who were raped during the Genocide. Even today, girls and women who were raped are still stigmatised and many suffer long-term physical and emotional damage, which can make them unable to fill their roles in the community.

Kristiansson says the aim of the documentary is to give a new vision of Rwanda: "In 1994, the mass rapes used as a weapon made Rwanda one of the worst places for women rights. Today, I believe that it is one of the safest. Thus, I started an investigation to understand this "Rwandan miracle”, to underline how the Rwandan women fought for their rights, with such a result in 19 years only,” adds Kristiansson.