Rwanda’s film industry has reached another milestone with Ben’imana, directed by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo, set to represent the country in the race for the 2027 Academy Awards.
The announcement follows the film’s success at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where it became the first Rwandan film selected for the festival’s Official Selection and won the Caméra d’Or, which recognises outstanding first feature films.
The production team described the Oscar submission as a moment of pride and gratitude, celebrating the journey of a film shot in Rwanda with an African cast and crew before completing post-production in Paris.
Ben’imana is a majority Rwanda-Gabon co-production involving France, Norway and Côte d’Ivoire. The 101-minute drama is set in Rwanda in 2012 and explores the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi through questions of justice, reconciliation and relationships between survivors and the families of perpetrators.
The film’s Cannes recognition has already brought international attention to Dusabejambo’s work and submission, representing a further step towards broader global visibility.
Selection as a national submission does not guarantee an Oscar nomination, as the film must still progress through the Academy’s international feature film selection process.
