Myriam Uwiragiye Birara, a renowned figure in Rwandan cinema, has won an award at the “Festival Panafricain du cinéma et de la télévision de Ouagadougou (FESPACO)’’ currently taking place in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The award, Prix Spécial UNFPA, was presented to her on February 28, 2025, the day before the festival’s final ceremony, scheduled for March 1.

The festival, which began on February 22, 2025, will conclude on March 1. This year, Chad is the guest of honor country, showcasing many of its films. FESPACO, which started in 1969, is one of Africa’s most prestigious film festivals, held every two years.

Birara received the Prix Spécial UNFPA award, given by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). She expressed her joy, stating that she was recognized for her film The Bride, which is valued at 4,500 USD (over 6 million Rwandan Francs). “They appreciated my film, and it’s an honor that my work in cinema is being recognized. It has motivated me to participate in this important African festival and win such a prestigious award,” she said.

Myriam Uwiragiye Birara, born in 1992, is a writer and film director. She holds a second-degree university diploma in Literature. She started making films in 2010 while still in high school and participated in various training programs that helped her produce three short films.

The film The Bride, which she wrote and directed, explores the traditional Rwandan custom of abducting women to marry them. The film has won multiple awards and will be showcased later this year at an art festival in Brazil.

Besides Birara’s award, several other Rwandan films were also featured at FESPACO, and it is anticipated that they might win awards as the festival concludes on March 1, 2025.