A boy from Kanombe, armed only with a dream and determination, once knocked on destiny’s door. Years later, destiny knocked back—with a film offer.

The past shapes us, but it doesn’t define us. People won’t remember who you were—they’ll remember who you become. Your family doesn’t determine your future. You do. Invest wisely in yourself—your most valuable asset.

No one understands this better than Shingiro Bora. He never let his background hold him back. He doesn’t dwell on what could have stopped him. He envisions himself in Hollywood—and works every day to get there.

Bora Shingiro is a Rwandan cinematographer, director, and writer. Born in Kanombe, Kigali, he is the second of seven children. At 34 years old, he has built a reputation for blending personal history with powerful storytelling.

> “I wanted to be a football player when I was young,” Bora recalled. “But the sport wasn’t respected much back then, and the pay wasn’t encouraging. As I grew up, my dreams changed. I began thinking about cinema—even though I wasn’t passionate at first.”

Curiosity led him to a short film course at the Rwanda Cinema Center. He applied, got in, and studied for six months. At first, he wasn’t sure what role he wanted in the industry. But the moment he stepped behind the camera, something clicked.

Still chasing a place in the industry, Bora enrolled at Kwetu Film Institute—ready to turn ambition into action.

He remembers a defining moment from his youth in Muhanga:

> “There was a film screening, and afterward, I spoke to a man—Bamporiki Edouard. I told him I wanted to act and asked him for help. He told me about a project called Three Soldiers and gave me his email. Every Friday, I went to CBL Café, paid 100 Rwandan francs, and asked the owner to send him a reminder email from me.”

A whole year passed without a response.

> “I kept wondering if my dream would ever come true,” he said.

In 2011, Bora released his first short film, Igitambo. With no distribution plan—just a burning need to tell the truth—he shared it, hoping the story would find its own wings.

Years later, as he sat in his small house in the ghetto, there was a knock at the door. It was a group of strangers—one of them was Edouard BAMPORIKI.

Edouard didn’t recognize Bora, who was now grown. They had come to offer him a directing role in a film titled Umutoma. Ironically, the man Bora once admired was now acting in a film Bora would direct.

> “I didn’t say anything at first. But on the final day, I told him I was that boy from the screening at the first of long Coats feature film by Eduard bamporiki. He was so happy to see how determined I had been,” Bora shared.

In 2014, his name began gaining attention. Richard Mugwaneza invited him to work on a TV series called CityMaid, produced by Samples Studio and Afrifame Pictures. They even paid his rent in Kimironko.

> “I couldn’t believe it,” Bora said. “A boy who once didn’t have proper clothes or money, now living in a house and working on a series aired on national TV (RTV).”

He kept growing. In time, he produced his own film, Luna, which was selected for festivals in Egypt, the U.S., and Germany.

Bora lost a parent during the Genocide against the Tutsi. That trauma and loneliness stayed with him—but he turned the pain into purpose.

In 2023, he released Igihuku, a film born from that past. He describes it as “a house where people no longer live”—a haunting reflection on those who sought shelter in churches during the genocide, only to be killed.

He also worked as Director of Photography on acclaimed projects like The Bishop Family, Ishusho ya Papa, Shuwadilu, and Bridge of Christmas. Currently, he’s filming a documentary on the torture and killing of the Mulenge people—proof of his commitment to stories that matter.

> “I don’t like how people are judged and hated just for how they were born,” he said

When asked about the secret behind his rise, Bora keeps it simple:

> “Be humble. Do good work. Learn constantly. I learned a lot through tutorials.”

He credits Richard Mugwaneza for introducing him to cinema and deeply appreciate Misago Wilson (CEO of Zacu Entertainment), Mutiganda wa Nkunda, Kivu Ruhorahoza(his second mentor), and JB Rutagarama, whom he calls his “masterclass mentor.”

Of all his projects, Bora’s favorite is The Bride by Myriam Birara.

> “It went so far and won many awards. But I’m proud of every project I’ve done.”

His advice to aspiring filmmakers?

> “Don’t give up. Be polite. Respect time.”

Future Goals

> “People say the sky’s the limit, but for me, I want to go from Kanombe to Hollywood,” he said. “My goal is to elevate Rwandan cinematography to the international stage.”

Notable Works of Bora Shingiro

2011: Igitambo – Debut short film

2014: Umutoma – Assistant Director; selected for Luxor, Beijing & other festivals

2016: CityMaid – Director & Cinematographer

2017: Nameless – Feature film selected for Carthage & FESPACO

2018: Luna – Writer, Director, Cinematographer; screened internationally

2020: Breaking Ground – Cinematographer; Special Jury Prize, Seattle

2020: Imuhira (Home) – Premiered at Locarno; won multiple awards

2022: The Bride – Berlinale special mention & other accolades

2022: The Land of a Thousand Hills & I Am Not for Sale – Cinematographer

2023: Igihuku – Writer, Director, Cinematographer; premiered at Silicon Valley African Film Festival

Shingiro Bora didn’t just rise from Kanombe—he’s carrying a nation’s stories all the way to Hollywood.