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Rwanda Cinema Center
RWANDA CINEMA CENTRE
Gaculiro Estate 2020 -Auracaria Nord Street, No 119 -P.O. Box 4065 -Tel: + 250 58 10 44 -Cell:+ 250 0830-6480-KIGALI/ RWANDA
Gaculiro Estate 2020 -Auracaria Nord Street, No 119 -P.O. Box 4065 -Tel: + 250 58 10 44 -Cell:+ 250 0830-6480-KIGALI/ RWANDA
PLACE:
Creative Artists Agency -9830 Wilshire Blvd - Beverly Hills, CA 90212
WHEN:
November 17th at 7:30
ATTENDANCE:
Normal seating of the screening room is 117 but we did overflow to 150 people. The biggest number of those in attendance were, film
and music industry people: producers, directors, lawyers in entertainment business, CEO of production companies and others.
The event started with a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres in the main lobby/atrium
Mr. Jones thanked CAA for hosting us, thanked Jean Nganji and the entire team at Rwanda Cinema Center and everyone who came,
saying that they came out in support of a very important Universal movement.
ØHe talked about his visits to Rwanda and the fact that he was planning to make a film about Rwanda. He said that he had asked
actor Will Smith to play the lead role and that Will had accepted but they are waiting for him to have some free time.
ØHe talked about the history of Rwanda that had been distorted in the past with the tribal issues but that the truth was really about
"social classes" than tribe, where people classes were more based on how many cows and land they had than anything else.
ØHe talked about plans to go to Rwanda with many important people like Clinton and
Ophrah.
ØHe talked about talking to people in Dubai and other Middle East countries, on possible investments in Resorts Hotels in Rwanda.
ØHe encouraged everyone to invest in Rwanda and to support Rwanda.
ØHe told people that he now has a land in Rwanda and intends to build a house there and vacation there.
ØHe went on to tell the people in the audience that their presence represents the much needed support to empower the youths of
Rwanda, who through their filmmaking, can tell their stories of life from their perspective but most importantly helps them learn a
new trade, earn a living and make a better way for their people.
ØHe ended by saying that they would truly be surprised by what they are about to witness through their eyes.
ØHe thanked everyone and said that it means a lot to him and the Rwandan Cinema Center.
·The audience was moved by his comments and we gave him a standing ovation.
·We followed up by the screening of the first film "God Sleeps in Rwanda" by Kimberlee Acquaro. This is an Academy Award Nominee
for Best Short Documentary
“The film captures the spirit of 5 courageous women as they rebuild their lives, redefining women’s roles in Rwandan society and
bringing hope to a wounded nation.”
·after the first film, a group of 6 Rwandan women dancers, performed a number, to the delight of the audience
·The dance was followed by the second film "Through My Eyes" by Eric Kabera
"The film traces stories of Rwandan youth as they try to find meaning in what happened during the Genocide of 1994. They use
painting, drama, film, music and dance to express themselves”
·After this second film, Jean Nganji moved on to do the presentation about Rwanda Cinema Center
Main points:
ØThanking the hosts (CAA and Mr. Quincy Jones) and the audience
ØQuick background about the first feature film of Rwanda "100Days" and the birth of Rwanda Cinema Center
ØRecent developments/achievements
ØRecent projects in work
ØThanking our partners and supporter. Mention of our board of advisors who are well known in Hollywood: John Turteltaub and
Monica Horan. Mention of partners in schools like UCLA, USC, BOSTON UNIVERSITY, SHOA FOUNDATION. Mention of global partners in
Swedish Institute, region partners in Maisha Lab in Uganda, vivid Features in Kenya. Mention of other US partners in Tribeca Film
Festival and the potential April 2007, presentation of Rwanda as a cultural partner at this prestigious film festival in New York.
Mention of partners and potential future collaborators like "Louverture Films" of Danny Glover and Josyln Barnes who were in the
audience. Mention of our Rwandan biggest partners in the Rwanda-TV and its current Director, Kije Mugisha, mention of our biggest
supporter in the Ministry of Culture, under the leadership of Minister Joseph Habineza. Finally, mentioning and thanking Mr. Quincy
Jones again, for making our evening possible and for keeping the children to his heart.
ØPresentation of Rwanda Cinema Center needs (remember this was a fundraiser evening)
ØQuoting Jennifer Brunetti, our new partner in New York, who is helping us with the proposal to Tribeca Film Festival
“There’s something about Rwanda – be it the people, the landscape, and the children – that remains a part of you when you leave
it. This is one of the country’s great powers that capture not only the attention of those who come to work or visit, but also infuses
any celluloid, photograph, and imagery taken with the landscape’s magical power. The beauty of this land is undeniable. The light
of its skies and shadows of its hills assure as they allure. Jungles give way to volcanoes, and mountain gorillas traverse them
discretely. The urban center of Kigali bustles with markets and crowded streets, under the gaze, of course, of those distant hills.
Rwanda, they say, is the Land of a Thousand Hills, and the emerging industry of film production is called, what else but Hillywood?”
ØPresenting a few points on WHY PEOPLE SHOULD SHOOT THEIR FILMS IN RWANDA, advantages and the bottom line for their
businesses
¨ After the presentation, we followed up by showing the Africa Channel ,3 mins introduction: "Rwanda the Renaissance". This was one
of the highlights of the evening.
¨The whole audience was in awe, to see the new Rwanda, with the bursting city, the mention of Starbucks and Macys selling our
products, the ICT industry and other progresses done
Note: representatives of Africa Channel were in the audience and they were introduced as well
ØConclusion with the mention that we do not want to be recognized as victims, we do not need hands-out but rather we need
partnerships and relationships that will last. We need people in Hollywood to bring their projects to Rwanda so we can work together
and we have already proved it with the recent Canadian production of "Shaking Hands with the Devil" which employed over 25 kids
from Rwanda Cinema Center.
ØLastly, we welcomed everyone and invited them to next year "Rwanda Film Festival" in March 16th-30th, 2007, in Rwanda.
Creative Artists Agency -9830 Wilshire Blvd - Beverly Hills, CA 90212
WHEN:
November 17th at 7:30
ATTENDANCE:
Normal seating of the screening room is 117 but we did overflow to 150 people. The biggest number of those in attendance were, film
and music industry people: producers, directors, lawyers in entertainment business, CEO of production companies and others.
The event started with a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres in the main lobby/atrium
Mr. Jones thanked CAA for hosting us, thanked Jean Nganji and the entire team at Rwanda Cinema Center and everyone who came,
saying that they came out in support of a very important Universal movement.
ØHe talked about his visits to Rwanda and the fact that he was planning to make a film about Rwanda. He said that he had asked
actor Will Smith to play the lead role and that Will had accepted but they are waiting for him to have some free time.
ØHe talked about the history of Rwanda that had been distorted in the past with the tribal issues but that the truth was really about
"social classes" than tribe, where people classes were more based on how many cows and land they had than anything else.
ØHe talked about plans to go to Rwanda with many important people like Clinton and
Ophrah.
ØHe talked about talking to people in Dubai and other Middle East countries, on possible investments in Resorts Hotels in Rwanda.
ØHe encouraged everyone to invest in Rwanda and to support Rwanda.
ØHe told people that he now has a land in Rwanda and intends to build a house there and vacation there.
ØHe went on to tell the people in the audience that their presence represents the much needed support to empower the youths of
Rwanda, who through their filmmaking, can tell their stories of life from their perspective but most importantly helps them learn a
new trade, earn a living and make a better way for their people.
ØHe ended by saying that they would truly be surprised by what they are about to witness through their eyes.
ØHe thanked everyone and said that it means a lot to him and the Rwandan Cinema Center.
·The audience was moved by his comments and we gave him a standing ovation.
·We followed up by the screening of the first film "God Sleeps in Rwanda" by Kimberlee Acquaro. This is an Academy Award Nominee
for Best Short Documentary
“The film captures the spirit of 5 courageous women as they rebuild their lives, redefining women’s roles in Rwandan society and
bringing hope to a wounded nation.”
·after the first film, a group of 6 Rwandan women dancers, performed a number, to the delight of the audience
·The dance was followed by the second film "Through My Eyes" by Eric Kabera
"The film traces stories of Rwandan youth as they try to find meaning in what happened during the Genocide of 1994. They use
painting, drama, film, music and dance to express themselves”
·After this second film, Jean Nganji moved on to do the presentation about Rwanda Cinema Center
Main points:
ØThanking the hosts (CAA and Mr. Quincy Jones) and the audience
ØQuick background about the first feature film of Rwanda "100Days" and the birth of Rwanda Cinema Center
ØRecent developments/achievements
ØRecent projects in work
ØThanking our partners and supporter. Mention of our board of advisors who are well known in Hollywood: John Turteltaub and
Monica Horan. Mention of partners in schools like UCLA, USC, BOSTON UNIVERSITY, SHOA FOUNDATION. Mention of global partners in
Swedish Institute, region partners in Maisha Lab in Uganda, vivid Features in Kenya. Mention of other US partners in Tribeca Film
Festival and the potential April 2007, presentation of Rwanda as a cultural partner at this prestigious film festival in New York.
Mention of partners and potential future collaborators like "Louverture Films" of Danny Glover and Josyln Barnes who were in the
audience. Mention of our Rwandan biggest partners in the Rwanda-TV and its current Director, Kije Mugisha, mention of our biggest
supporter in the Ministry of Culture, under the leadership of Minister Joseph Habineza. Finally, mentioning and thanking Mr. Quincy
Jones again, for making our evening possible and for keeping the children to his heart.
ØPresentation of Rwanda Cinema Center needs (remember this was a fundraiser evening)
ØQuoting Jennifer Brunetti, our new partner in New York, who is helping us with the proposal to Tribeca Film Festival
“There’s something about Rwanda – be it the people, the landscape, and the children – that remains a part of you when you leave
it. This is one of the country’s great powers that capture not only the attention of those who come to work or visit, but also infuses
any celluloid, photograph, and imagery taken with the landscape’s magical power. The beauty of this land is undeniable. The light
of its skies and shadows of its hills assure as they allure. Jungles give way to volcanoes, and mountain gorillas traverse them
discretely. The urban center of Kigali bustles with markets and crowded streets, under the gaze, of course, of those distant hills.
Rwanda, they say, is the Land of a Thousand Hills, and the emerging industry of film production is called, what else but Hillywood?”
ØPresenting a few points on WHY PEOPLE SHOULD SHOOT THEIR FILMS IN RWANDA, advantages and the bottom line for their
businesses
¨ After the presentation, we followed up by showing the Africa Channel ,3 mins introduction: "Rwanda the Renaissance". This was one
of the highlights of the evening.
¨The whole audience was in awe, to see the new Rwanda, with the bursting city, the mention of Starbucks and Macys selling our
products, the ICT industry and other progresses done
Note: representatives of Africa Channel were in the audience and they were introduced as well
ØConclusion with the mention that we do not want to be recognized as victims, we do not need hands-out but rather we need
partnerships and relationships that will last. We need people in Hollywood to bring their projects to Rwanda so we can work together
and we have already proved it with the recent Canadian production of "Shaking Hands with the Devil" which employed over 25 kids
from Rwanda Cinema Center.
ØLastly, we welcomed everyone and invited them to next year "Rwanda Film Festival" in March 16th-30th, 2007, in Rwanda.