Rwandan filmmaker fights all odds to compete on the global scene

One cannot talk about the growing Rwandan film industry without mentioning Joel Karekezi. The youthful filmmaker holds a diploma in film directing from Cinecours Canada. His short film ‘The Pardon’ won the best short film award at Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF), California in 2010. The film carries a deep reconciliation message after the1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Karekezi lectures scriptwriting at the KWETU Film Institute in Kigali.Joseph Njata recently caught up with him in Kigali and below are the excerptsWhat inspired you into filmmaking? My experience as a Genocide survivor inspired me to become a filmmaker. I realised that I had many stories that I wanted to share with the world. How far have you gone in filmmaking? I have made several short films that have culminated in my first feature film Imbabazi: Pardon, which is currently in post-production. I am working on my second feature script that was recently selected for pitching at the Durban Film Mart scheduled for July 2012. This will be in South Africa.What are some of your major achievements in filmmaking? In 2010 my short film won the best short film prize at SVAFF. I attended the 2011 Durban Filmmart where I was selected as one of the three producers to represent Africa at the 2012, Rotterdam Lab in Netherlands. I won a script-development fund at Goteborg Film Festival Fund in 2010 and recently, I won the post-production Fund at Global Film Initiative in 2012. You recently won $10,000 grant from Global Film Initiative, how do you plan to use this money? This was a competition involving Asian, South American and African films projects where the ten best projects won the grant for either production or post-production. I am so happy to say that my project Imbabazi: Pardon was the only African project on the winning list this year. This fund will go towards the post production of my film. This involves sound design, colour correction and music scores. What piece of advice do you give to upcoming filmmakers?They should not think about money first. They should be patient and ready to persevere until they can be in a position to tell stories that can go beyond Rwanda. Where do you see yourself seven years from now?I have many projects that I hope to realise in the next few years. I am looking forward to a possible collaboration with likeminded filmmakers. Most importantly, I am setting up my production company that will venture into the global market. In seven years time, I believe I will have professionalised the art by making quality films that will represent Rwanda and Africa in various film festivals around the world. What are the main challenges for filmmakers in Rwanda?The main challenge is accessing funds. In some countries, filmmakers are exposed to different film funds where they can apply to make their films. Unfortunately, African filmmakers have to compete for Europe and American funds to make films. I look forward to a day when Rwanda will set aside a fund for filmmakers struggling in the art. This can contribute immensely to the growth of local film industry.Piracy affects artists negatively, what do you think is the way forward?Piracy is a big problem and I think the best way to fight it, is for us (artists) to come together and design policies that can help protect our work. We are lucky our government has good policies in place but we need their support to have them implemented. What do you think is the future of ‘Hillywood’?Hillywood is growing steadily, we now have different film festivals in the country and the number of films made locally is getting bigger. However, the future of Hillywood will be even brighter once we start making professional films. Quality is the word! Do you have any upcoming project?My next project will be a co- production. I wrote it with my colleague Casey Schroen and it was selected to be part of the DURBAN FILMMART 2012. My co-writer will also be pitching the story in L.A in May. I am very excited for this achievement! Do you have any Rwandan filmmaker who inspires you and why? I am inspired by Kivu Ruhorahoza. His latest film Grey Matter was awesome! He is very talented, and I first met him in Rotterdam where he was pitching his next project, Jomo. He is one of the most promising Rwandan filmmakers.

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Rwandan filmmaker fights all odds to compete on the global scene