Africa Digital Media Academy has opened a motion capture studio in Kigali. The studio is the first of its kind in East Africa.

Motion capture is the process by which live movement is recorded and the data used to create realistic animation for film and television.

Speaking at a news conference at Africa Digital Media Academy offices in Kigali on Thursday, the Director General of the Workforce Development Authority (WDA), Jerome Gasana, said the new facility will help generate more income for the country including through foreign trainees.

 "This is the 3rd country to get a motion capture studio in Africa, after South Africa and Nigeria. We have modern high-tech equipment and well skilled lecturers,” Gasana said.

The studio will help interested Rwandan youth from different sectors to train in latest film making technology.

"We are blessed as Rwandans to get this facility. I am sure this studio will serve not only Rwanda but Africa as a whole,” he added.

Marler Christopher, director Africa Digital Media Academy, said the motion capture studio will equip students with skills in film making, editing and lighting.

"Our studio has modern high- technology equipment for the film making industry at the international level. It has advanced motion capture which has been used in films such as Lord of the Rings and Avatar and Dawn of the planet of the apes,” Marler added.

Africa Digital Media Academy is part of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training system.

It was opened in January, 2012, and trains Rwandans in all aspects of advanced media production, from film editing and production to 3D animation.

Currently, the academy is in the process of admitting about 100 students for the next intake.