The sixth edition of the Rwanda Movie Awards is set for June 26 at the Kigali Convention Centre. Organisers made the announcement during a press conference over the weekend. According to Eric Nshimyumuremyi, one of the organisers, this year’s edition will be bigger and better as it will feature extra activities as part of reaching out to more people and promoting the local film industry. “This edition will be quite different from the other editions that we have had in the past because we want to conduct more outreach activities and be able to expose our local films to a big number of people,” he said. He explained that the official event will be preceded by ‘Rwanda Movie Week’, a three week-long period of countrywide activities. The movie week will feature tours of the nominees across different parts of the country, and other community and charity activities. “The overall aim of having all these activities is to showcase the power of the film industry. As we conduct the movie week, more people will be able to see our film actors as well as watch some of the work done by them,” he noted. Rwanda Movie Week will commence June 3 to June 23. During this period, organisers will conduct road shows and film screenings in every province. Also, organisers and film actors will visit hospitals, prisons, and memorial sites. Last year’s People’s Choice Actress Assia Mutoni has been nominated for the same award this year. “The movie week will be conducted in Musanze, Huye, Rubavu, and Gisagara districts.” Organised by Ishusho Arts, the annual event is expected to be attended by some of East Africa’s leading film actors like Vincent Kigozi, Wema Sepetu, Irene Uwoya, commonly known as Oprah, and Elizabeth Michael (Lulu). The voting process begins today and closes on June 23. Voting will be conducted both online and via SMS. A List of 20 nominees, both men and women, selected by a team of judges for the Peoples’ Choice Awards (PCA) was also released, but only two will be awarded. Below are the nominees for the PCA; Actors Ibrahim Ntakirutimana Muniru Habiyakare Erneste Karisa Emmanuel Mugisha Didier Kamanzi Gratien Niyitegeka Emmanuel Ndayizeye Celestin Gakwaya Daniel Gaga Longin Irunga Tanzanian actor Vincent Kigozi (left) will attend this year’s awards. Actresses Saphine Kirenga Fabiora Mukasekuru Assia Mutoni Nadege Uwamwezi Antoinette Uwamahoro Laura Musanase Sarah Umuganwa Anne Marie Mukeshimana Nicole Uwineza Aline Munezero editorial@newtimes.co.rw
