Rwanda Special: Screening of “Imbabazi – The Pardon”

Events

Rwanda Special: Screening of “Imbabazi – The Pardon”

Hackesche Höfe Kino, Berlin, Germany
27 Apr 2014

With director Joel Karekezi in attendance and in commemoration of the genocide in Rwanda 20 years ago, AfricAvenir invites you on Sunday, 27 April 2014 at 17h30 to screening of the awarded feature film “Imbabazi – The Pardon” at Hackesche Höfe Kino in Berlin.

In Rwanda in 1994, Manzi and Karemera are best friends who seem to be inseparable, until the inexorable forces of history and violence tear them apart. After the death of Rwanda’s Hutu president plunges the country into ethnic civil war, Manzi must choose between friendship and family, and Karemera pays the horrific price. Fifteen years later, news of Manzi’s release from prison throws Karemera’s life into chaos. Karemera attempts to return his childhood friend to prison, while Manzi struggles with his own guilt. As the former friends search for justice and absolution, they both find themselves at odds with a society eager to forget the trauma of the past. Can Manzi and Karemera remain true to themselves and also come to terms with their past?

The screening will be followed by a discussion with director Joel Karekezi as well as a samll reception in the cinema foyer.

Joel Karakezi is a Rwandan genocide survivor. KAREKEZI Joel, in 2008 got a Diploma certificate in film directing. In 2009 he attended Maisha film lab in screenwriting and after the course he directed his short film “Le pardon” (on which the later feature is based), which won The Golden Imapala award at Amakula Film Festival in Uganda. It screened at Kenya International film festival, and in 2010 it screened at Zanzibar International film festival, Durban International film festival, Images that matter short film festival in Ethiopia, and Silicon Valley African Film Festival in California where it won The 2010 Best short film Award. In 2010 he participated in The Berlinale Campus in Germany. In May 2011, he was part of mentors during the Maisha Film Lab in RWANDA. The feature “The Pardon” recently won the Nile Grand Award and Golden Tutankhamen Award at the 3rd LUXOR African Film Festival.

He’s starting his production company in Rwanda (KAREKEZI FILM PRODUCTION) with the purpose of making good African films available to audiences worldwide.