Before a movie script reaches the hands of actors, it must first pass through the hands of key visionaries—the film producers. These individuals are the backbone of any production, ensuring that everything from casting and locations to props and post-production falls into place. Without their dedication, many of the powerful stories we see on screen would never come to life.

In Rwanda, a growing number of talented producers are working tirelessly to elevate local cinema—spotlighting Rwandan talent and sharing our narratives with both national and international audiences. These individuals not only represent the spirit of our nation but also keep the flame of Rwandan creativity burning brightly.

Here are 10 influential Rwandan film producers who continue to shape the future of our film industry:

1. Eric KABERA

Eric Kabera, a Rwandan filmmaker born in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), is widely recognized as the pioneering force behind Rwanda’s film industry. With over 25 years of experience in film and television, Kabera is renowned for producing impactful works that reflect African narratives with authenticity and dignity. He is affectionately referred to as the “Godfather” of Rwanda’s film industry and coined the term Hillywood to reflect the country’s cinematic identity as the “Land of a Thousand Hills.”

Though he was living in the DRC when the Genocide against the Tutsi began in April 1994, Kabera lost 32 family members in the atrocities. This personal tragedy deeply influenced his filmmaking journey and inspired him to tell stories that preserve memory and promote healing.

Kabera produced 100 Days (2001), the first feature film about the genocide and the first film shot in post-genocide Rwanda. Created in collaboration with British filmmaker Nick Hughes, 100 Days was groundbreaking in its use of genocide survivors—both Tutsi and Hutu—as actors, and it was filmed at actual locations where atrocities occurred. The film has influenced international productions such as Hotel Rwanda and HBO’s Sometimes in April, both of which Kabera contributed to.

His documentary Keepers of Memory (2004) offers a poignant look at the aftermath of genocide through interviews with both victims and perpetrators. Other notable films include:

Africa United – An award-winning feature about Rwandan youth journeying to the World Cup.

Intore: The Chosen – A reflection on Rwanda’s recovery two decades after the genocide, told through music and dance.

Through My Eyes – A youth-centered documentary exploring past, present, and future perspectives.

The Woman in Me, A Quarter Century, and more.

In total, Kabera and his institute have produced over 50 films, including feature films, documentaries, shorts, animation, and experimental projects. His work has been showcased at more than 80 international film festivals and featured by major media outlets such as BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, PBS, Sky News, the LA Times, and many others.

Kabera is the founder and president of the Rwanda Cinema Center, which was established to train emerging filmmakers and promote a vibrant local film culture. In 2005, the center launched the Rwanda Film Festival, affectionately known as Hillywood. The festival is unique in its mobile format—films are projected on inflatable screens and shown in rural communities across Rwanda to reach as wide an audience as possible.

Kabera also founded the Kwetu Film Institute, the country’s first formal film and television school. Both institutions are at the heart of Rwanda’s cinematic growth and are supported by the Government of Rwanda through a formal memorandum of understanding.

Kabera’s mission to promote positive Pan-African storytelling has garnered support from prominent figures in the global film community.

His collaborators, supporters, and advisors include:Jon Turteltaub (National Treasure, Cool Runnings, The Meg)Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon)Alfre Woodard (The Color Purple)Wynn Thomas (Production designer for Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, King Richard)John Bailey (former President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences).

He has collaborated with the USC Shoah Foundation, founded by Steven Spielberg, to preserve and share stories of genocide, especially for younger generations.

Kabera was honored by the Director’s Guild of America and received the 2012 African Creative Visionary Award from the Pan African Film Festival. His work has been presented at global institutions including the United Nations, the University of Southern California, UCLA, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, CalArts, and others.

Kabera’s vision for the future includes the construction of Rwanda’s first purpose-built cinema in Kigali—a project that remains in progress due to funding limitations. Nonetheless, his legacy continues to grow through the filmmakers he trains, the stories he champions, and the global platforms he engages with. Eric Kabera remains committed to telling stories that elevate African voices and redefine how the continent is seen by the world.

2. KIVU RUHORAHOZA

Kivu Ruhorahoza is a Rwandan film director, writer, and producer renowned for exploring themes of trauma, identity, and post-colonial tension through cinema.

He gained international recognition with his debut feature film Grey Matter, which premiered at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival and received the Jury Special Mention for Best Emerging Filmmaker.

Born on December 6, 1982, in Kigali, Rwanda, Ruhorahoza began his career in 2004 as a production assistant for veteran filmmaker Eric Kabera. He was later promoted to production manager, where he assisted visiting news crews from global outlets such as the BBC and CNN. Despite his early experience in broadcast journalism, his true passion lay in narrative filmmaking.

Ruhorahoza made his international debut in 2007 with the short film Confession, which won the City of Venice Award at the Milan African, Asian and Latin American Film Festival and was screened at the Venice Film Festival. His second short film, Lost in the South (2008), earned Best African Short Film at the Vues d’Afrique Festival in Montreal and was also shown at the Rotterdam International Film Festival.

In 2011, he released his first feature film, Grey Matter, a bold exploration of trauma and psychological instability in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Despite being produced in Rwanda under challenging financial conditions, the film achieved critical success and was screened at prestigious festivals including Tribeca, Melbourne, Warsaw, Rotterdam, Dubai, Durban, Göteborg, and Festival do Rio. It earned Ruhorahoza numerous accolades, including the Ecumenical Jury Special Mention at the Warsaw Film Festival, the Grand Prize of the Tübingen French Film Festival, Best Director and the Signis Award at the Cordoba African Film Festival, and the Jury Special Prize at the Khouribga African Film Festival.

In 2014, Ruhorahoza began production on his second feature, Things of the Aimless Wanderer. Tackling the complex and sensitive dynamics between “locals” and Westerners, the film explores themes of paranoia, mistrust, and cultural misunderstanding. Shot entirely on a BlackMagic Cinema Camera with a small budget and a fully Rwandan crew, the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in the New Frontier program.

Kivu Ruhorahoza continues to be one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary African cinema, blending artistic innovation with bold socio-political commentary.

3. MBABAZI SHARANGABO Philibert Aimee

SHARANGABO is a Rwandan filmmaker. He has made several critically acclaimed short films including, The Liberators, Versus and I Got My Things And Left. Mbabazi obtained his B.A in cinema department from Geneva University of Art and Design (HEAD – Genève, Haute école d’art et de design) in Geneva. During school times, he made two films The Liberators and Versus. Both films were screened in several film festivals including Vision du Réel Nyon, Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, Tampere, Oberhausen and Uppsala Short Film Festival.After graduating in 2017, he returned to Rwanda.

In 2019, he directed the short film I Got My Things And Left which won the Grand Prize at the Oberhausen International Short Film Festival. The film has screened at more than 20 film festivals such Rotterdam International Film Festival, Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, Go Short Nijmegen, Indie Lisboa and ISFF Hamburg, FIFF Namur etc.

He started the film production company called ‘Imitana Productions’ based in Kigali, Rwanda. He later made his maiden feature film Republika (Spectrum).

4. Clementine DUSABEJAMBO

Dusabejambo’s short film Lyiza won a Tanit bronze award at the Carthage Film Festival in 2012. Her short film A Place for Myself (2016) told the story of a young Rwandan girl with albinism, who struggles in the face of discrimination and stigma at primary school. Dusabejambo had become interested in the topic after hearing news reports of the 2007-2008 killings of people with albinism in Tanzania. The film premiered at the Goethe Institut in Kigali, and was shown at the 2017 Toronto Black Film Festival. It gained three awards, including the Ousmane Sembène Award, at the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), and won a Tanit bronze award at the Carthage Film Festival in 2016. She was also nominated for Best Short Film at the 2017 Africa Movie Academy Awards, and won the Thomas Sankara Prize at the 2017 FESPACO.

Icyasha (2018) focuses on a 12-year-old boy, who wants to join the neighborhood football team but who is bullied for being effeminate. It was nominated for Best Short Film at ZIFF 2018, in the short films category at Carthage Film Festival, and for Best Short Film at the 2019 Africa Movie Academy Awards. It won the Golden Zébu for Panafrican Short Film at Rencontres du Film Court Madagascar 2019.

5. Wilson MISAGO

Misago Wilson (born December 14, 1985), also known as Nelly is a renowned Rwandan film and television producer, writer, and content creator. He is the founder and CEO of Zacu Entertainment, a leading production and distribution company in Rwanda. Misago is widely recognized for creating and producing some of the country’s most popular television drama series, including Inshuti (Friends), Seburikoko, City Maid, and Indoto.

He is also the mind behind the critically acclaimed drama series Ejo Si Kera, produced in collaboration with the Imbuto Foundation and aired on Rwanda Television (RTV). Misago’s work spans across film, television, and digital platforms, shaping the evolution of modern Rwandan entertainment.

Misago began his media journey in 2009 as a journalist for Inyarwanda. A year later, he became the marketing manager of Inyarwanda Ltd and was later promoted to managing director. In 2012, he briefly worked as a radio presenter at City Radio while also developing entertainment content for Inyarwanda.com.

In 2013, he produced his first television series, Ubu n’ejo, which received little public attention. However, in 2014, he gained national recognition with Inshuti, Rwanda’s first locally produced television sitcom, aired on TV10. The success of Inshuti led to the creation of Seburikoko, one of the most beloved Rwandan TV dramas, aired on RTV.

Later that year, he launched City Maid, another widely acclaimed urban drama series that further cemented his role as a pioneer in Rwandan TV production.In 2017, Misago directed the short film Little Skater and established Afrifame Ltd, a company focused on audiovisual content production and photography. He later founded Zacu TV, Rwanda’s first subscription-based Video on Demand (VOD) platform dedicated to showcasing Rwandan films and series. Zacu TV was officially unveiled at the Transform Africa Summit 2019, signaling a new era for Rwandan digital media.

In mid-2022, Canal+ Group acquired Zacu TV with the goal of boosting audiovisual production in Rwanda and supporting emerging local talent. Today, Zacu TV is available on Canal+ decoders via the Ikaze subscription package on Channel 99.

In June 2024, Misago created Rwanda’s first-ever television sitcom, Shuwa Dilu, which airs on Zacu TV. The series stars well-known Rwandan comedians including Gratien Niyitegeka (a.k.a. Papa Sava), Ramadhan Benimana (a.k.a. Bamenya), and Eric Nsabimana (a.k.a. Dogiteri Nsabi). The show follows Superi, Waxi, and London, three roommates navigating humorous everyday situations in a shared rental home. With its ensemble cast and lively setting, Shuwa Dilu blends sharp comedy with relatable Rwandan social dynamics. He also produced a TV series called Kaliza wa Kalisa which is Adapted from the Indian show “Kareena Kareena” by Zee Entertainment, this series marks a departure from typical Rwandan formats, offering audiences a novel viewing experience. It is still being produced and since its premier, it became a fan favorite. Kaliza wa Kalisa won four awards in Mashariki film festival 10th Anniversary including The best Iziwacu TV series, Best director, Best upcoming male actor and best TV series actress.

In a 2024 press conference, Misago emphasized that Zacu Entertainment aims to enter a new phase in 2025 by actively nurturing young Rwandan filmmakers. The company is currently developing multiple projects that engage emerging directors, producers, actors, and crew members. Upcoming series include Hurts Harder, already in production by a young producer, which will feature a large cast of youth characters.

Through his groundbreaking work in television and digital media, Wilson Misago continues to redefine Rwandan storytelling, inspiring a new generation of creatives and positioning Rwanda as a rising force in African entertainment.

6. Samuel ISHIMWE KAREMANGINGO

Samuel Ishimwe Karemangingo (born 1991) is a Rwandan filmmaker, screenwriter, editor, sound engineer, and cinematographer. He is best known for his critically acclaimed short film Imfura, which made history as the first Rwandan film selected for competition at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale). The film won the prestigious Silver Bear Jury Prize, marking a milestone for Rwandan cinema on the global stage.

After completing secondary school in 2010, Ishimwe began working as a reporter and photographer for igihe.com. His filmmaking journey began in 2011 with his debut short film Paying Debts, screened at the Rwanda Film Festival. That same year, he participated in a documentary workshop with Maisha Film Lab in Uganda, where he also worked as an assistant producer on the short documentary Invisible Souls. Later that year, he joined the K-dox documentary workshop led by filmmaker James Longley.

In 2012, he completed a three-month intensive filmmaking course at the Kwetu Film Institute. That September, he took part in a writing and directing program titled A Sample of Work. His screenplay Crossing Lines won an award in a scriptwriting competition organized by the Goethe-Institut Rwanda.

After graduating from the National University of Rwanda, Ishimwe continued his work as a journalist and photographer before pursuing advanced studies in Switzerland. In June 2017, he earned a degree in film from the Haute école d’art et de design (HEAD) in Geneva.

Later that year, he released Imfura, a short film that explores themes of memory, grief, and identity in post-genocide Rwanda. Its inclusion in the Berlinale Shorts competition marked a groundbreaking achievement for Rwandan cinema and solidified Ishimwe’s reputation as a bold and thoughtful storyteller.

Samuel Ishimwe continues to develop cinematic projects that reflect Rwanda’s complex history and human resilience, positioning him as a leading voice in contemporary African cinema.

7. MUTIGANDA WA NKUNDA

MUTIGANDA is a Rwandan filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer whose work has significantly shaped Rwanda’s emerging film landscape.

In 2012, while still a student, four of his screenplays were shortlisted in the Global Dialogues Short Story Creation Contest. The following year, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and began working as a film critic and journalist with several Rwandan media outlets.

In 2014, wa Nkunda wrote, produced, and directed his first short film, Rayila, a poignant story that follows a teenage mother and her six-month-old baby. The film addresses difficult issues such as rape, HIV/AIDS, and stigma, portraying a sixteen-year-old girl who is sexually abused and infected by her stepfather.

Rayila received critical acclaim and was awarded at numerous local and international film festivals. It is available to view on YouTube.That same year, he created the popular sitcom Inshuti, considered the first-ever Rwandan-produced TV series. It aired on TV10 Rwanda from 2014 to 2015 and gained a loyal following online after its release on YouTube.

In 2015, wa Nkunda worked as a producer on the short film Ishaba, developed during a workshop at the inaugural Mashariki African Film Festival (MAAFF). The film screened at several international festivals and was released on DVD by Africalia as part of its African Best Short Films collection. Later that year, he participated in the Maisha Film Lab screenwriting workshop in Kigali, where he developed the popular comedy series Seburikoko, which began airing on Rwanda Television in March 2015.

He also directed an experimental short film, La Femme Nue, selected for screening at the 3rd edition of MAAFF in 2015.After leaving journalism in 2016, wa Nkunda dedicated himself fully to filmmaking. He directed the TV series City Maid for Rwanda Television and wrote the script for Virunga School, aired on Royal TV.

In 2017, he wrote, produced, and directed his second short film, Ibanga ry’umunezero.That same year, he co-founded the independent film production company IZACU with fellow filmmaker Yuhi Amuli.

Under IZACU, wa Nkunda self-funded and developed his first feature film, Nameless. The project was selected for the Takmil workshop at the 2018 Carthage Film Festival, where it was acquired by Orange Studio. Nameless premiered at the 2021 Fribourg Film Festival in Switzerland and was selected for the main competition at FESPACO 2021, where it won the award for Best Screenplay.

In 2020, he produced A Taste of Our Land, directed by Yuhi Amuli. The film earned the Best First Feature Narrative award at the 2020 Pan African Film Festival and Best First Feature Film by a Director at the Africa Movie Academy Awards. It also earned Michael Wawuyo the Best Actor Award at the Festival du Cinéma Africain de Khouribga.

8.Joel KAREKEZI

Joël Karekezi is a celebrated Rwandan filmmaker known for exploring themes of conflict, forgiveness, and human resilience. His 2013 film Imbabazi: The Pardon earned international attention and several nominations, including at the Africa Movie Academy Awards and the Chicago International Film Festival. His most acclaimed work, The Mercy of the Jungle (2018), won numerous prestigious awards, such as the Étalon d’Or de Yennenga at FESPACO, Best Film at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, and the Silver Hugo at the Chicago International Film Festival. Through his compelling narratives, Karekezi continues to illuminate the emotional and social aftermath of the Rwandan genocide across the African continent.

9. Didacienne NIBAGWIRE

Didacienne Nibagwire is a Rwandan producer, actress, and advocate for the arts. She founded IYUGI, a film production company that has become a key player in the Rwandan film industry. Nibagwire has also been a prominent figure in the creation of L’Espace, a cultural space dedicated to supporting the arts and promoting Rwandan filmmakers. Through IYUGI, she has provided a platform for emerging filmmakers and storytellers, encouraging them to explore the complexities of Rwandan culture and history.

10. Richard MUGWANEZA

Richard Mugwaneza is a Rwandan filmmaker based in Montreal and an alumnus of Berlinale Talents, Durban Talents, Maisha Film Lab, and the Luxor Filmmakers’ Lab. Since 2007, he has worked as an assistant director and editor on numerous acclaimed Rwandan films by directors such as Joël Karekezi and Marie Clémentine Dusabejambo, with screenings at top festivals like Tribeca, FESPACO, and Clermont-Ferrand.

He made his directorial debut in 2011 with Nota Bene, followed by Chora Chora (2013) and A Seed of Memories (2017), which won the Tribute to Rwandan Cinema Award at the Khouribga African Film Festival and was distributed by Azam Media. In 2018, he directed the short documentary Darbaka at the Luxor African Film Festival.

Mugwaneza is currently developing the feature film Muntu, awarded the Fonds Jeune Création Francophone, with support from CNC, Telefilm Canada, and SODEC, and developed during a writing residency at L’INIS in Montreal. He continues to collaborate on international projects and coordinates the cinema section of Montreal’s Festival du Bonheur.

Beyond these ten, there are many more producers such as Bahavu Jeanette, Yuhi Amuli, Jean Luc Mitana, Myriam Uwiragiye Birara, and Emilia Umuhire. Together, they form a collective force pushing the boundaries of Rwandan cinema.

As the industry grows, these visionary producers continue to champion stories that matter—stories that reflect who we are and where we’re going. Their work is not just entertainment; it’s a cultural legacy in the making.

We haven’t forgotten other talented YouTube content producers like Niyitegeka Gratien, Benimana Ramadan, Yannick Niyonshuti, and many others. Their hard work and dedication continue to play a vital role in shaping the Rwandan cinema industry.Stay tuned — we’ll be publishing a follow-up article soon highlighting the Top 10 Rwandan YouTube Content Creator Producers.

Who do you think will top the list?