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Rwandan Director's Cannes Winner Lands CAA Deal
12 Nov
Summary
- Marie-Clementine Dusabejambo's film 'Ben'imana' won Camera d'Or at Cannes.
- The film is Rwanda's first entry for the Academy Awards.
- Dusabejambo taught herself filmmaking and led a local crew.
Marie-Clementine Dusabejambo, the Rwandan director behind the Cannes Camera d'Or winner "Ben'imana," has signed with CAA. This marks a significant milestone for Rwandan cinema, as "Ben'imana" was the first film by a Rwandan director selected for the Cannes Official Selection, subsequently winning best first feature and the Fipresci Prize for Un Certain Regard.
Rwanda later submitted "Ben'imana" as its inaugural entry for the best international feature category at the 99th Academy Awards. The film's acclaim extended to a best international feature nomination at the Gotham Film Awards following its festival run at Toronto, BFI London, and AFI Fest.
"Ben'imana" is a decade-long endeavor, co-produced by Rwanda, Gabon, France, and Norway, with a substantial 90% of its crew sourced from Rwanda's local film industry. Dusabejambo, a Kigali native, developed her filmmaking talent independently and through a neighborhood collective, achieving early recognition with her short film "Lyiza."
