Three Voices, A Focus on Rwanda
Bill Clinton joined President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Jane Rosenthal for a remarkable celebration of Rwandan culture, including the work of three emerging filmmakers, at the New York Academy of Art on Thursday, May 3rd.
Tribeca rolled out the red carpet for world leaders like former President Bill Clinton and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda on Thursday, May 5th, to showcase the African nation’s emerging film industry.
The evening linked the Tribeca Film Festival to the Rwanda Cinema Center, as both were born out of tragedy and with a similar goal—to give voice and healing where it is most needed. Tribeca Film Festival Co-Founder Jane Rosenthal began the evening with a warm introduction for Kagame, noting the power of film as a source of healing.
President Kagame welcomed the gathering to a celebration of Rwandan culture, art and performance, including the work of three rising filmmakers who shared the vision of a country healing itself through artistic expression. “The story of the Rwandan film industry is essentially the story of Rwanda itself,” remarked President Kagame, noting how commitment, resilience and a determination to achieve a shared purpose have rendered great progress.
Head of the Clinton Global Initiative and former President Bill Clinton provided his own thoughtful introduction to the evening. “Consider the miracle that they have already achieved,” remarked Clinton. “It’s one of the most well organized, disciplined, forward-looking places—not just in Africa but among all the developing countries of the world.”
Celebrating Kagame’s achievements, Clinton continued, “He’s gone out of his way to make partnerships…to convince all kinds of people just to come in and help Rwanda to build a future. These young filmmakers are part of that future. They’re not just trying to build an economy: they’re trying to build a modern political system and a modern rich culture rooted in who they are without denying where they have been; looking toward where they can go and what they can become. It is a thoroughly astonishing place, well led, but also a place that has lessons to teach us all. Whatever resentments we harbor in our hearts, they pale by the side of what the average Rwandan can carry around and be consumed by every day. They are a lesson in letting go and going on. I hope tonight they’ll help us all to learn it well.â€
As the centerpiece of an evening that included performances by the Rwandan National Dance Troupe, a music performance by Jean Paul Samputu and an address by former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Andrew Young, was a sample of three remarkable films: Three Voices, A Focus on Rwanda.
The evening also served as an introduction to the work of three extraordinary young filmmakers, who received their training at the Rwanda Cinema Center: Gilbert Ndahayo (Scars of My Days), Thierry Dushimirimana (A Love Letter to My Country) and Pierre Lalumiere Kayitana (Behind These Walls).
Award-winning filmmaker Eric Kabera (Keepers of Memory) founded the Rwanda Cinema Center because he wanted to share his story not only with the rest of the world, but also his countrymen. By staging outdoor screenings on inflatable screens, the RCC was able to show films by Rwandan filmmakers to thousands of people throughout the hills of the country—telling their own stories from their own perspectives to their own people. “We only have one television station, less than one percent of our population can afford a TV, and that’s the driving force for me and my entire fantastic team to do what we do.â€Â Once again thanking the remarkable filmmakers who were showcased, he said, “They are the sample of the driving force of our country.â€
 Watch a Video of the Event
Explore the Rwandan Cinema Center »
No Comments
No comments yet.
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
Leave a comment
