Archive | Rwanda Cinema Center RSS feed for this section

Open Air Cinema Profile: Eric Kabera of the Rwanda Cinema Center

Eric Kabera of the Rwanda Cinema Center

Eric Kabera of the Cinema Center

ERIC KABERA is the Chairperson of the Rwandan Film Festival, renowned producer of ‘100 Days’, forefather of the Rwanda Cinema Center and many young film makers in Rwanda attribute their success to him. The reason being: ‘His work has yielded fruits’.

Since the inception of Rwanda Cinema Center in 2001, Kabera has trained people on how to produce films for a period of three years. His hard work later materialized with the introduction of the Rwanda Film Festival which was officially launched in 2005.

Kabera said: “I had watched several movies produced in Rwanda by foreigners and the idea of the local people producing their own movies clicked in my mind thus leading to the formation of the Rwanda Film Center.”

“Like any humble beginnings, the organisation (Rwanda Cinema Center) was started within my house but later with the help of different parties like; Ministry of Sports and Culture, SIDA, NPA and several others, it become productive.”

“It was the passion and desire to give something to the countrymen that drove me into starting the center.”

During this year’s 6th Edition of the Rwanda Film Festival, amazing short movies and comedies produced by locally upcoming movie directors and producers portray the fabulous work conducted at the Rwanda Cinema Center.

Celebrated’ is this year’s theme according to Kabera, ‘one can celebrate even their challenges’.

He has produced over ten independent movies and his favorite is ‘Ingali lwa Alphose’ (Alphose’s bicycle). ‘Africa United’ is Kabera’s upcoming adventure movie yet to be released in September this year.

Born on July 5th, 1970 in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo to Mr. Pheneas Kabera and Mrs. Immaculate Niyonambaje, Eric Kabera is one of the last siblings in the Kabera family.

He attended primary school at Primarie Karisimbi, Keshero Secondary School, Goma Institute of Education where he attained a Diploma in Education and Child Psychology.

After dropping out of a Law School (Institute of Faculty of Law in Goma) he came to Rwanda in 1994 and worked as a Freelance Journalist for several Media Houses such as the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Writers Agency.

“I extensively worked with several foreign Media Houses after the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, the Writers Agency  in 1997 offered a special course in London regarding Media broadcast, writing International News which I participated in and attained a certificate,” Kabera explained.

“ I embarked on making documentary films and in 1998 I teamed up with Nik Huges of Vivid Features and made the first Genocide film ‘100 Days’ which I produced,” he said.

In 2000 Kabera went to Hollywood for a special training in Post Production, Directing and Editing with top Hollywood Producers and Directors.

“Although the course was expensive since it cost $250 per class and they were ten of them, I came back with the idea of strengthening the film industry in Rwanda hence the beginning of the long journey,” the enthusiastic Kabera explained.

Besides being a movie maker, Eric Kabera is a family man—he is married to Alice Migonne Kabera and they are blessed with three lovely children; a boy and two girls, Emika, Erica and Celeb respectively.

With the spirit of Eric Kabera, many are tutored and daily Rwanda’s Film Industry is heading towards a brighter future.

Source: http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=14358&article=4039&week=29

Comments { 0 }

Italian Magazine Features Open Air Cinema's Outdoor Movies in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda

Outdoor Movies in Kenya, Tanzania, and UgandaIn a recent issue of the Italian magazine, D la Repubblica delle Donne, Open Air Cinema’s inflatable movie screens were featured in a special African spread. Open Air Cinema’s past work bringing outdoor movies to refugee camps in , and caught the magazine’s eye. As mentioned in the article, Open Air Cinema’s inflatable screens will be used in ’s Outdoor Film Festival, “Hillywood”. In rural regions of , where a whole village shares one old TV, movies and Public Service media are rare. Open Air Cinema traveled to to bring film entertainment and also educational media to these rural areas. You can read the blog post about Open Air Cinema’s outdoor movies in here. The following is the article from the Italian magazine, D la Repubblica delle Donne.

Outdoor Movies in an Italian MagazineDopo i pop up store, i pop up cinema. La compagnia americana Open Air Cinema fornisce tutto l’occorrente nella formula dei “CineBox”: uno schermo gonfiabile da dodici metri, generatori, proiettori digitali, lettori dvd, altoparlanti e custodie per il trasporto. “E dal momento che possono essere installati ovunque, perché non cominciare dalle zone più remote dell’Africa, con l’aiuto delle Ong, per unire l’intrattenimento all’informazione su temi come l’Aids o i diritti delle donne”, ha pensato il presidente Stuart Farmer. “Già usati nei campi profughi di Kenya, Tanzania e Uganda, gli schermi gonfiabili saranno installati a giugno a “Hillywood”, il festival di cinema itinerante del Ruanda (openaircinema.us).

Photo of Outdoor Movies in Africa from Insert

Photo of Outdoor Movies in Africa from Insert

After the pop up store, the movies pop up. The American company Open Air Cinema provides everything you need in the form of the  “CineBox”: an inflatable screen twelve meters in dimension, generators, digital projectors, DVD players, speakers and boxes for transport. “And since they can be installed anywhere, we can take them to the most remote areas of Africa, with the help of NGOs; joining entertainment with information on topics such as AIDS or the rights of women,” he thought President Stuart Farmer. “Already in use in the refugee camps of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, inflatable screens will be installed in June at “Hillywood”, the film festival touring Rwanda (openaircinema.us).

Source: “Life e Tendenze” by Stefania Medetti -D la Repubblica della Donne. Read full (Italian) article at: http://dweb.repubblica.it/dweb/2009/02/21/lifeetendenze/lifeetendenze/058lab63458.html.

Comments { 0 }

CEO of the Rwanda Cinema Center Tours the US- Update

Outdoor Movies in RwandaPlease see previous post for more info: Eric Kabera, CEO of the Cinema Center, is currently touring the US to meet with important partners and friends of RCC. These entries were taken from the RCC blog, which can be found at http://rwandacinemacenter.wordpress.com/

I am glad to let you know that on Monday, 22nd, the events that were scheduled went very well!

We met the 4 scholastic kids from Rwanda, the Minister of Culture Joseph Habineza, Jennifer, Dante and Nadine the kid’s chaperon at the Marriott Markis on Broadway for breakfast. This was the start of the day!

As we talked, I introduced myself to Dante who had not yet gotten the video we made of the kids in Rwanda! To our relief, the video only came in by mid morning. It will be edited and presented at the Gorillas summit on Friday.

Off we went for our first meeting at the Essex hotel. We were introduced to Craig Hacktoff, Jennifer and Tom the father of the famous baby tigers! (For those who do not know this extraordinary story, check the web: baby tigers adopted by two dogs!) We all know cats and dogs do not mix, but this is an incredible story that can give the rest of mankind a lesson: We can mix and tender for one another as long as we give that bit of love and care we all have! Or so goes Tom’s story…

About ten of us crowded the room where Tom freed the 3 baby tigers from their cage! We were allowed to touch them, give them milk and experience the bond the tigers had with the dogs. What a treat! Photos were taken and the kids from Rwanda had a blast! This was an incredible encounter!

After the interaction with the tigers, our group went for lunch and had to prepare for our next meeting and encounter! Guess what, the Scholastic Kids of Rwanda met their counterparts from the to sign a declaration protecting mountain gorillas in the presence of the 42nd President of the most powerful nation on earth! Former President Bill Clinton!

Sweating, as we were about 9 people crammed in a small room,we waited to be ushered into the room where we would shake the hands with Clinton. But shaking hands was not part of my agenda. The Rwanda Cinema Centre and I had been among the team that facilitated the program of the Scholastic Kids,so not only did I have the responsibility of following the kids and be part of the delegation but to also record their special moments (with Jennifer Brunetti’s camera). In the end I think my presence with all these cameras was too noticeable so our friends from the Clinton Global Initiative kindly suggested that we do not video record the event but only have pictures of the former president taken. So like many photographers on TV and movies, I decided not to line up and shake hands with Clinton but rather walked behind him flashing away!

Minister Joe had a chat with Former President Clinton, and it was fun to see the kids from Rwanda have an interaction with him too and even ask questions! As some of you may recall, I have filmed Bill Clinton before for one of my haunting documentary films on the survivors’ account of the 1994 Genocide. The footage of Clinton is featured in a sequence of an under toned Mea Culpa! A very strong sequence.

Clinton is such an amazing orateur! He spoke with the kids on conservation and even on the current McCain and Obama campaign! It was interesting, one of the Scholastic kids from American came forward and to ask questions but forgot the content, a bit intimidated he had to go back. Clinton was kind enough walk up to the kid and request that he ask the question again. “How bad or good is this campaign compared to the others?” the boy finally asked. This ended up being one of the best questions from the kids.

More photos were taken to the point we had to use a second camera. (Peter from the BBC had given me his camera to take pictures of him with Bill Clinton!) It was fun and I was glad that I did not only get to meet Clinton again, but that I took so many pictures that some of his security guys whispered to me that it is enough! “Your flash is too strong,” they had told me.

Finally, the Scholastic Kids and I went to another event. Back to back, from one President to another. This time it was the President of the Republic of Rwanda in an event organized by the Macy’s Stores. Macy’s sells the famous Peace Baskets of Rwanda. These are known to be the best baskets, better than what Japan, China and other places that are putting out on the market. Cecile Kayirebwa (famous Rwandan singer) performed at the event, speeches were made by the CEO of Macy’s followed by President Kagame… it was a great event!

Again, I was flashing away. Upon reaching my President and shaking his hand, he recognizing me and quietly asked how I was, to which I replied, “I am fine your Excellency.”

Having an interaction with 3 baby tigers in a New York Hotel with dogs taking care of them, meeting two Presidents in a day, watching an Opera in an open space on Broadway, what else can excite kids of 11 and 12 years old? In a nutshell, this was too much for them! They were soon worn out! However it was all worth it as they were given five MacBook laptops by Craig Hacktoff the co-founder of Tribeca Film Festival. Nadine, their chaperon got one too! A very welcomed ‘goodnight kiss’ for the kid’s last evening.

Comments { 0 }

CEO of the Rwanda Cinema Center, Eric Kabera, Touring the US

Outdoor Movies in RwandaThis entry was taken from the official blog of the Cinema Center and its CEO, Eric Kabera. For more information check out http://rwandacinemacenter.wordpress.com

CEO and founder of the Rwanda Cinema Center, Eric Kabera, will be touring the US from September to November this year.

Eric’s main aim on this tour will be to meet with potential partners and supporters of RCC and reinforce their relationship with the TRIBECA Film Institute.

RCC along with the TRIBECA Film Institute are working to create an exchange program which will enable Film students from Rwanda to visit the US and get a first hand experience the US film industry. Film students from the US will get the same opportunity in Rwanda.

Eric will be visiting universities that have shown an interest in RCC and Rwandan films namely; the University of Southern California (USC) and some universities in Michigan. He will be meeting up with groups from Hollywood to further develop our relationship and will be talking especially to comedy writer Edward Greenberg.

This tour will also serve to present our achievements and prospects to the interested parties. Our progress on the independent movies theatre will especially be presented to Philip and Monica Rosenthal, who helped materialize it from a simple idea.In addition, Eric will be meeting with the manufacturers of inflatable screens in to discuss and further explore the use of this technology.

Upon the success of Eric’s tour to the US, RCC hopes to officially launch film classes at the first film institute in Rwanda (Rwanda Film Institute) by next year. We hope to have updated a yearly calendar and to have recruited mentors to kick-start this phenomenon.

Finally we hope to have introduced, to potential producers, our first comedy feature called CBB (formerly under the title ‘Dodou Goes to the World Cup‘).

If any of this has inspired or even made you a tiny bit curious, please get in touch by leaving a comment on Eric’s blog (http://rwandacinemacenter.wordpress.com/) or by contacting Eric himself at erickabera@yahoo.com

If you are a producer and are interested in film from Rwanda, Eric would be over the hills if you were to contact him or better yet meet up with him on tour.

Here are some dates and locations for those interested:
New York (20th – 28th September, 22nd and 27th October,7th – 8th November)
Michigan (28th September – 3rd October)
Los Angeles (4th – 11th and 14th – 22nd October)
Utah (11th – 14th October)
Boston (22nd – 26th October)
Atlanta (27th – 31st October)
Washington (1st – 6th October)

The Rwanda Cinema Center

The Rwanda Cinema Center was created to facilitate film and video production; to deliver informative, entertaining, and educational content; and to explore a wide spectrum of issues and raise awareness on local and global development agendas, community outreaches, and socio-cultural, political and economic development. Film is one of the most popular forms of entertainment, but it also represents an industry that is growing- thus creating trades, foreign investments and job opportunities. Rwanda is now a country on the move and their cultural diversity and creative energy is finding the space to flourish.

In addition, Rwanda Cinema Center is putting up Rwanda’s first independent movie theater. This will be the scene of workforce training and include a sound stage that can be used by public and private entities. The main hall will be built to the same standards used for Los Angeles and Hollywood facilities. There, filming of major motion pictures, television documentaries, commercials and independent films will take place. It is hoped the complex will meet every aspect of a production company’s needs. This investment will mean more jobs and opportunities for the Rwandan people, and will facilitate the growth of Rwandan cinema.

Comments { 0 }

Provo, Utah: Outdoor Movies at the Bridal Veil Film Festival

Outdoor Movies at the Bridal Veil Film Festival; Provo, UtahIf you’ve driven north on I-15 recently, you’ve probably noticed Open Air Cinema, a fairly new business located to the west in Lindon, and thought to yourself, “How is that a surviving business in ?” While Open Air Cinema is based in , it’s a worldwide company that we’re privileged to have here.

Open Air Cinema supports outdoor movies by providing high quality outdoor film-viewing equipment that’s a thousand steps above hanging a sheet on your garage door and using your dad’s digital projector from work. They’ve been used all around the world, from the L.A. and Tribeca Film Festivals to ’s summer movies under the stars. Currently, they’re putting on a local charity benefit for the Cinema Centre (RCC) by hosting the Bridal Veil Film Festival.

is a beautiful, unused and forgotten-about monument,” says Open Air Cinema owner Stuart Farmer. “During winter it’s too dangerous … but we can put good use to it in summertime. … We spoke to the owners of the property and they were more than willing to let us put this charity event on there.”

Open Air Cinema has taken a unique angle for their festival. The titles being shown are the best of the best when it comes to foreign films and documentaries. So far, they’ve shown films like Life is Beautiful, Amelie and Warner Herzog’s harrowing documentary Grizzly Man. The festival will close next week with the best title of them all, Brazil’s City of God. (See the full list of screenings below.)

Though admittance to the festival costs $8, it is well worth it knowing that all proceeds will go straight to the charity. As if that weren’t good enough, you’ll see great films with high quality projection and sound in a stunningly gorgeous location. And after Saturday night’s screening of 2001: A Space Odyssey, there will be a special space-themed dance.

What: Bridal Veil Film Festival

Where: Bridal Veil Falls Cost: $8 per person

Info: “http://www.bvfilmfest.com” and “http://www.openaircinema.us”

When: 8:00 p.m. each night

Screenings: Sept. 25 – Wings of Desire (Germany) Sept. 26 – Wardance () Sept. 27 – 2001: Space Odyssey Sept. 28 – City of God (Brazil)

Comments { 0 }

Bridal Veil Film Festival Comes to a Close

Bridal Veil Film Festival Outdoor Inflatable Movie Screen

Bridal Veil Film Festival Inflatable Movie Screen

This past weekend marked the end of the Bridal Veil Film Festival, as we closed with the films “Wings of Desire”, “Wardance”, “2001: A Space Odyssey”, and “City of God”. “Wardance” was something of a theme-movie for us, as all the proceeds from the festival were donated to the Cinema Center. “2001” brought in a good crowd as one of the more well-known films shown in the past 3 weeks, and hundreds of people came out for the dance after the film.

I must say I’m sad to see the festival go. In an era of Netflix, YouTube, and home theaters, I think we have lost something in the community-cinema experience. Sure, DVDs provide convenience: no lines to wait in, no sold out shows, no annoying kids kicking the back of your chair. But there was a time when local cinemas were the only exposure to film available, and all films were watched in the company of neighbors, friends, and strangers. You’d laugh together, cry together, and discussions would naturally rise regarding the various issues posed in each film. I know that the group experience probably isn’t enough to draw people out of the comfort of their homes and DVD players, but I am glad that events like the Bridal Veil Film Festival give us the opportunity to once again experience movies as a community.

And the festival was much more than a movie: we got the opportunity to see movies we probably wouldn’t see otherwise, from cultures very different from our own. I can’t imagine a better venue in which to watch a movie than at the foot of a waterfall, under the stars. Outdoor films are sometimes far and few between, but it’s always fun when one comes along. The Bridal Veil Film Festival is an experience of cinema and nature, a melding of art that we as humans have created and art we could never replicate. It is an opportunity to come together as a community and experience culture in a new way. These international films give us a glimpse into a different world, and in the process we too reach out to these far-away lands and give something back.

Comments { 0 }

Outdoor movies at Bridal Veil Falls

The night began in a flurry as tents, lanterns, chairs, and a gigantic inflatable movie screen sprang up at the base of in the heart of Canyon. As I rushed to set up ticket booths and concessions stands, I barely noticed as a stream of eager movie-goers gathered along the roadside. Various people ranging from college students to senior citizens trickled- then poured- into the venue, armed with blankets and hot cocoa. Time flew by and my own shivering alerted me to the setting sun and cooling air. Moments later the film began- “Life is Beautiful”, one of my favorites- and I finally sat to rest. It was only then that I paused to survey the scene laid before me. A sea of neighbors and friends, closely knit to keep warm in the cool, almost-autumn air, sat transfixed before the screen. The cascading waterfall was still visible in the last rays of sunset, just meters away from our little make-shift theater. The canyon walls rose like skyscrapers around us, crowned with an indigo sky, the first sparking stars peeking through. And in the middle of it all came the melodic strains of Italian dialogue: “Buon giorno, Principessa!”

The first weekend of the Bridal Veil Film Festival has passed with astounding success. With over 150 attendees the first night alone, the festival is sure to grow throughout the next two weeks as it gains more notoriety. Saturday’s film, “Amelie”, was followed by an 80’s dance and was especially popular with the college crowd. This weekend’s shows will include “Children of Heaven” on Thursday, “Cinema Paradiso” on Friday, the old favorite “Chariots of Fire” on Saturday, and “Grizzly Man” on Sunday. Each day the movie will begin at the usual time of 8:00pm. A dance will again be held after Chariots on Saturday, this time with a “Jock Rock” theme.

Festival Schedule

Starting at 8pm every night:

Sept 12- Life is Beautiful ()

Sept 12- Amelie (France)

Sept 14- Dreams (Japan)

Sept 18- Children of Heaven (Iran)

Sept 19- Cinema Paradiso (Italy)

Sept 20- Chariots of Fire (England) *Jock Rock dance following film*

Sept 21- Grizzly Man ()

Sept 25- Wings of Desire (Germany)

Sept 26- Wardance ()

Sept 27- 2001: A Space Odyssey (Space) *Space dance following film*

Sept 28- City of God (Brazil)

Comments { 0 }

Bridal Veil Outdoor Film Festival Benefits the Rwanda Cinema Center

Bridal Veil Film FestivalFor several years organizations such as Film Aid and the Cinema Center strive to better the quality of life of those in impoverished nations through the power of film, as well as giving them the resources and opportunities to tell their own stories with film. Their efforts in using inflatable movie screens and mobile outdoor cinema equipment from Open Air Cinema have proved extremely successful within villages and refugee camps in , , , & .

The Bridal Veil Film Festival is a charitable event to celebrate arts and international culture. The Festival is nestled between the mountains at the base of in , . The three weekend event intends to raise money for the Rwanda Cinema Center. The festival begins September 12th and concludes September 28th. With a diverse selection of movies from over nine different countries, the Bridal Veil Film Festival is a unique celebration of culture and beauty that viewers will never forget.

Film Schedule

8 pm, Sept 12 – Life is Beautiful ()
8 pm, Sept 13 – Amelie (France)
8 pm, Sept 14 – Dreams (Japan)
8 pm, Sept 18 – Children of Heaven (Iran)
8 pm, Sept 19 – Cinema Paradiso (Italy)
8 pm, Sept 20 – Chariots of Fire (England)
8 pm, Sept 21 – Grizzly Man ()
8 pm, Sept 25 – Wings of Desire (Germany)
8 pm, Sept 26 – Wardance (Uganda)
8 pm, Sept 27 – 2001 Space Odyssey (USA)
8 pm, Sept 28 – City of God (Brazil)

The Bridal Veil Film Festival is located at the foot of Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon, Utah. The giant 50ft. screen and seating for 500 viewers is situated directly below the falls on the north side of the Provo river. The Falls are located about 3 miles from the entrance of the Canyon on the Provo side (southern entrance to the Canyon).

Price: $8 Donation Ticket. Available at Entrance or Online
Location: At the base of Bridal Veil Falls, Provo Canyon, Utah.
Bring: Blankets, lawn chairs, couches, recliners, etc. Dress warm!

More About the Rwanda Cinema Center

The Rwandan Genocide occurred in 1994 where nearly one million people were brutally murdered due to ethnic and economic differences. Eric Kabera, founder of the Rwanda Cinema Center, was an assistant to news crews coving the genocide events. He thought a film about the genocide would remind the world what happened during the three terrible months in Rwanda when so many lives were lost. In 1997, Eric Kabera created a film entitled 100 Days with British director, Nick Hughes, to raise awareness both locally and globally of the tragedy and violence occurring in Rwanda. His movie inspired the making of the film Hotel Rwanda.

In 2002, Eric Kabera founded the Rwanda Cinema Center with the intention to train and facilitate filmmaking in Rwanda. The film school trains youth how to make films in order for them to share their own stories. While these movies could be viewed in most parts of the world, there was no way to show the movies that were made in Rwanda to the people in Rwanda.

In 2005, Monica Horan Rosenthal from Everybody Love Raymond donated an Open Air Cinema inflatable movie screen system to Eric Kabera. The portability and durability of the Open Air Screen enabled Eric to launch the Hillywood Film Festival. The Hillywood Film Festival highlights movies created by Rwandan film makers from the Rwanda Cinema Center in conjunction with other international films and has been traveling the country for the past four years. The objective of this film festival is to provide two weeks of education and entertainment to the people of Rwanda. “Rwanda has one of the highest levels of illiteracy in , if not in the world, and you can imagine the power of these visuals,” says Eric Kabera. Many directors from Hollywood and employees from the Tribeca Film Festival have come to to contribute to the festival. One Rwandan actor stated, “If we keep acting at least the world will know much more about Rwanda.”

Eric Kabera’s 16 ft screen is getting old and worn from rapid use. In June of 2008, Open Air Cinema donated a Sanyo Projector with a 9 ft movie screen and entered into a partnership with the Rwanda Cinema Center. Now Open Air Cinema is looking for more opportunities to help them get additional equipment in order for the film festival to expand to further countries in Africa such as Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Burundi.

Comments { 0 }

Open Air Cinema Brings Outdoor Movies to the Hills of Rwanda

Open Air Cinema brings outdoor movies to RwandaSo there is no cinema in your neighborhood? No cinema in your city? Not even a cinema in your country? Well, that didn’t stop a group of young Rwandan filmmakers from screening their films in nearly every corner of their country.

With an inflatable movie screen from Open Air Cinema thousands of Rwandans have been able to enjoy a special new brand of cinema: Rwandan cinema. A wave of Rwandan films have been circling the world since Eric Kabera (a Rwandan native) produced a film entitled 100 days, a story about the years of genocide that plagued . That film heavily influenced a number of other movies including the award-winning Hotel . Rwandan cinema has been highly acclaimed in film festivals as prestigious as the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. But international success was not enough for Kabera, who felt that these films would have a much greater impact in rural Rwandan villages. Kabera immediately set up the Rwandan Film Center in the capital of as a space for young Rwandans to learn the skills needed to produce movies, films and documentaries about relating to Rwandan culture and history. Armed with a large inflatable movie screen from Open Air Cinema, the Rwandan Film Center has roamed through the hills of Rwanda screening hundreds of films and movies, both foreign and domestic.

The lack of movie theaters in Rwanda has not at all hindered the growth of Rwandan cinema, with a portable compact cinema system, anybody anywhere can now enjoy the wonders of film!

Comments { 0 }