Renowned Rwandan filmmaker Eric Kabera has been bestowed with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Afrika Film Festival in Leuven, Belgium. The accolade recognizes Kabera’s prolific career spanning over 30 years, during which he has produced significant works focusing on the Genocide against the Tutsi and has been instrumental in training a new generation of storytellers in Rwanda.
Kabera, the founder of Kwetu Films, stands as the first Rwandan filmmaker to receive such a prestigious honor, attributed to his impactful cinema creations including ‘Intore’, ‘The Woman in Me’, ‘100 Days’, among others.
Expressing his gratitude, Kabera shared his sentiments with The New Times, highlighting the significance of being recognized by the esteemed festival in Leuven. He emphasized the festival’s role in showcasing African cinema and its profound impact on the next generation of storytellers from Rwanda and beyond.
Afrika Film Festival has established itself as a prominent platform for celebrating African film culture, hosting screenings across Belgium alongside various ancillary events. Through its dedication to promoting African films, the festival actively contributes to the advancement of the audiovisual sector in Africa.
Kabera’s influence extends beyond his filmmaking endeavors; he is also the visionary behind Kwetu Film Institute, Rwanda’s leading film and television school. The institute collaborates with renowned organizations such as the Sundance Film Festival, the Academy of Motion Picture and Sciences, the Shoah Foundations, and the Pan African Film Festival, fostering talent and facilitating the production of over 50 films including shorts, documentaries, and feature films over the past two decades.
