Eric Kabera
Encyclopedia
Eric Kabera is a Rwanda
n journalist, film-maker and founder and president of Rwanda Cinema Center.
, was born in Zaire
, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC). Even though he was still living in the DRC when the Rwandan Genocide
started in April 1994, Kabera tells of his family members who lived in Rwanda at the time, 32 of them dying in the violence. This inspired him to make a 2001 feature film about the genocide titled 100 Days and a 2004 documentary titled Keepers of Memory in which he interviewed both victims and perpetrators of the atrocities. 100 Days, which Kabera made in collaboration with the British
film-maker Nick Hughes, was the first film shot in Rwanda after the genocide and it was also the first feature film about the genocide. The film employed no professional actors, rather the filmmakers used actual Tutsi and Hutu
survivors to act out the script, and was shot on location at the actual scenes where acts of genocide occurred.
but the films, especially ones made by Rwandan film-makers, are also shown on large inflatable screens in rural areas throughout the country. More recently, Kabera has stated that the festival will make a move away from focusing only on the issue of the genocide; rather "other social issues" of modern Rwanda will be explored. Kabera says that he would like to make a comedy.
Partly to help further promote the film festival, Kabera has started a project to build Rwanda's first purpose-built movie theater
in Kigali. The theater has been under construction since at least 2007 but progress is slow due to lack of funds necessary to complete the project.
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
n journalist, film-maker and founder and president of Rwanda Cinema Center.
Early life and career
Kabera, an ethnic TutsiTutsi
The Tutsi , or Abatutsi, are an ethnic group in Central Africa. Historically they were often referred to as the Watussi or Watusi. They are the second largest caste in Rwanda and Burundi, the other two being the Hutu and the Twa ....
, was born in Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
(DRC). Even though he was still living in the DRC when the Rwandan Genocide
Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
started in April 1994, Kabera tells of his family members who lived in Rwanda at the time, 32 of them dying in the violence. This inspired him to make a 2001 feature film about the genocide titled 100 Days and a 2004 documentary titled Keepers of Memory in which he interviewed both victims and perpetrators of the atrocities. 100 Days, which Kabera made in collaboration with the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
film-maker Nick Hughes, was the first film shot in Rwanda after the genocide and it was also the first feature film about the genocide. The film employed no professional actors, rather the filmmakers used actual Tutsi and Hutu
Hutu
The Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...
survivors to act out the script, and was shot on location at the actual scenes where acts of genocide occurred.
Present activities
Today, Kabera is the founder and president of the Rwanda Cinema Center, an organization that aims to promote the country's film industry. Kabera initially set up the Center as an organization that would train new film-makers but, since 2005, the center has been better known for organizing the annual Rwanda Film Festival. The Rwanda Film Festival, nicknamed "Hillywood" due to Rwanda's nickname of "Land of a Thousand Hills", is a travelling festival. Due to Kabera's desire to show the films to as large of an audience as possible, the festival is held not only in the capital of KigaliKigali
Kigali, population 965,398 , is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is situated near the geographic centre of the nation, and has been the economic, cultural, and transport hub of Rwanda since it became capital at independence in 1962. The main residence and offices of the President of...
but the films, especially ones made by Rwandan film-makers, are also shown on large inflatable screens in rural areas throughout the country. More recently, Kabera has stated that the festival will make a move away from focusing only on the issue of the genocide; rather "other social issues" of modern Rwanda will be explored. Kabera says that he would like to make a comedy.
Partly to help further promote the film festival, Kabera has started a project to build Rwanda's first purpose-built movie theater
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
in Kigali. The theater has been under construction since at least 2007 but progress is slow due to lack of funds necessary to complete the project.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 100 Days | Producer |
| 2004 | Keepers of Memory | Screenwriter, director, producer |
| 2008 | Iseta: Behind the Roadblock | Co-producer |
| 2010 | Africa United Africa United (2010 film) Africa United is a 2010 film directed by first-time UK film director Deborah 'Debs' Gardner-Paterson and starring Emmanuel Jal, Eriya Ndayambaje, Roger Nsengiyumva, Sanyu Joanita Kintu, Sherrie Silver and Yves Dusenge.-Synopsis:... |
Producer |
External links
- Official website
- Interview with Kabera on Behind the Roadblock for Radio France InternationaleRadio France InternationaleRadio France Internationale was created in 1975 as part of Radio France by the Government of France, and replaced the Poste Colonial , Paris Mondial , Radio Paris , RTF Radio Paris and ORTF Radio Paris...