Entertainment · Film · 1 day ago
Rwandan Film Ben’Imana Chosen as Country’s First Oscar Submission
Ben’Imana is set in Rwanda, 18 years after the genocide against the Tutsi.
It follows survivors and perpetrators as they face the challenge of making peace.
Director Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo says she wanted to show their lives without reducing people to stereotypes.
Rwanda chose the film as its first submission for the Oscars.
Rwanda has selected Ben’Imana as its first-ever Oscar submission.
The film was directed by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo.
Set in 2012, it follows survivors and perpetrators in a Rwandan village as they grapple with reconciliation.
Dusabejambo said she wanted the film to reflect history authentically and avoid stereotypes of victims and perpetrators.
The film was made entirely by Rwandans, with a mostly non-professional cast.
- Who
- Rwanda selected Ben’Imana as its first Oscar submission. The film was directed by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo.
- What
- Ben’Imana was chosen as Rwanda’s first-ever Oscar submission.
- When
- The selection was described as recent in an article published on October 10, 2026.
- Where
- The story is set in a Rwandan village.
- Why
- Dusabejambo said she wanted to understand what happened during the genocide and portray reconciliation without stereotypes.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
We Need To Understand What Happened
I wanted to be more authentic to the history
I didn’t really want to fall into the stereotype of the victim and the perpetrator.
All of us, we are connected to this story.
Dusabejambo said the idea for Ben’Imana came after her second short film.
Ben’Imana was nominated as Rwanda’s first-ever Oscar submission.
- Film
- Ben’Imana
- Director
- Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo
- Oscar submission
- Rwanda’s first
- Setting
- A Rwandan village in 2012
- Genocide context
- 18 years after the genocide against the Tutsi
Sources
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