A new film, Alliah the Movie is  making headlines in town not just  because of its quality and creativity, but also its successful premier.  

From the red carpet to the movie premiere itself, the event has proven to be all about what a true Rwandan movie should be. 

The movie was produced by  Alliance Isimbi, a renowned local actress who wants to use her experience to change the game in the Rwandan film industry. 

Held on Sunday, September 12, at Canal Olympia, Rebero, the movie premiere event attracted a host of celebrities from different sectors who turned up in numbers to support the actress’ step in filmmaking.

The 100-minute movie was directed by Ramadhan Benimana, a household name known for his role in the famous local online movie series ‘Bamenya’.  

‘Alliah the Movie’, is inspired by the life experience of Isimbi.

Musicians Platini P (2nd left) and Bruce Melodie (C) were among a host of celebrities who attended 'Alliah the Movie' premiere- courtesy photos

"This is me, this is Alliah and this is my past,” main actress Isimbi says in the movie introduction.

In the movie, one Juste is forced to marry Alliah after he impregnates her.

Alliah’s father threatens to get Juste jailed if he tries to reject his daughter. The latter unwillingly agrees to marry her.

As a result, he mistreats Alliah despite being pregnant, sleeping with other girls in Alliah’s home and is unsupportive throughout her pregnancy period.

Officials from Nigerian company  One Percent International Services Ltd, who supported Isimbi during the production of the film, were also in attendance during the movie premiere

Isimbi, who has been working on the movie project for over the past two years, said she developed the story into a movie because she believed that similar cases happen in  communities

Although she did not want to share more about her past, Isimbi told The New Times that she developed the movie around her life experience to not only highlight the situation some women go through but to also leave a message that can inspire the society.

 "I won’t say much about my past but the story of this film is 85 or 90 percent inspired by the life I went through. The majority of what is in the movie happened to me. That’s why I thought I could share this story with society,” she said.

"I am not used to expressing my feelings, especially bad feelings. I prefer to always smile. But, through my talent, I thought I would express my feelings in this movie to help many people,” she added.  

Isimbi said she produced the film because she believed it would help so many people in their lifetime after realizing that there are a number of women who experience the same situation and can borrow a leaf from the movie to change the way they behave when faced with a similar situation.

 "There is a woman out there who doesn’t know how she can handle a similar situation like the one I was experiencing in the movie ,” she said.

The film was shot in Gisozi, in the City of Kigali.

Distribution

‘Alliah The Movie’ is a big project which Isimbi wants to go global and is  targeting to distribute on big platforms so it reaches a wider audience.

She did not reveal how much she spent on the movie but Isimbi insists that she invested a lot of money to get the project finalized to international standards, with the support of Nigerian company ‘One Percent International Management Services Ltd’, the same company that recently signed a partnership deal with local musician Platini P.

Isimbi produced her film with English subtitles because she has a target to distribute it globally and, besides educating the society, she now wants to sell it via internationally-recognised movie platforms that people from across the globe can pay subscription to watch it.

"I am a businesswoman and I need returns from my movie. We are looking for a wider distribution so we can start making sales in the movie,” she said.

After Sunday’s official premiere, the movie will soon be showing on Nollyflix, and an official trailer is already playing on the Nigerian movie platform.

Isimbi also told this publication that her management is in talks with world’s top movie streaming platform ‘Netflix’ so her movie can soon feature on the platform for people across the globe to be able to access it.