A young filmmaker Pacifique Mazimpaka has been quietly but steadily establishing himself as a rising talent in Rwanda’s cinema industry.

Born on July 10, 1997, near King Faisal Hospital where his mother worked, Mazimpaka's journey from amateur filmmaker to professional director offers a compelling glimpse into his career from humble beginnings to a passion that sustains him both financially and creatively.

Mazimpaka's introduction to filmmaking came in 2018, but not as a formal career pursuit. Like many young people seeking creative outlets, he and his friends in Gikondo neighborhood began making amateur films partly as an artistic expression and partly as a constructive alternative to the drug culture that presented a risk to youth in their community.

"We were making films where we lived in Gikondo, mostly for creativity and to avoid getting involved in drugs," Mazimpaka said.

These early creative experiments, though unprofessional, planted the seeds for what would later become his passion and source of income.

Before discovering cinema, Mazimpaka was focused on football. His trajectory changed significantly during his Senior 4 year when he suffered a severe injury that sidelined him for six months. During this forced break from sports, his brother, Didier, who worked as a model introduced him to a local acting club.

"My brother told me that since I loved movies, there were guys teaching acting there, and I could join to avoid boredom," Mazimpaka recalls.

What began as a way to pass time during his injury recovery gradually evolved into a genuine passion.

The informal acting sessions soon led to more structured film projects, marking the beginning of his cinematic journey.

Professional Breakthrough

The year 2020 marked Mazimpaka's entry into professional filmmaking when he joined Zacu Entertainment's project "Indoto series." Starting from the bottom as a runner, essentially an all-purpose assistant on set, he embraced the opportunity to learn the craft from the ground up.

"Since it was new and had a large team, and I was unknown, I started as a runner for Season 1. Following the COVID-19 lockdown, I advanced to become a costume designer, a role I would hold across multiple productions until February 2024,” he said.

His costume design portfolio includes impressive credits on several Rwandan productions like "City Maid," "Indoto series," "Ejo sikera," "Malaika," "Igeno ryange," "The Bishop Family," "Circled Love," and "The Bridge of Christmas."

Mazimpaka's ambition and dedication eventually led him to directing. His first opportunity came as an assistant director for the series "Ishusho ya Papa." His talents didn't go unnoticed, and by February 12, 2024, he achieved a major career milestone when he was named director of "City Maid."

Currently, he serves as the director of "Indoto series", the very production where he started as a runner just a few years earlier.

Behind every success story often stands a pivotal mentor, and for Mazimpaka, that person was Israel Businge, a director who recognized his potential in 2020, just before the covid19 pandemic.

"We discussed business, he trusted me, took my hand, lifted me up, and made me who I am today. If it weren't for him, I would probably still be struggling," said Mazimpaka.

Mazimpaka's career trajectory reflects broader positive changes in Rwanda's film industry.

According to the filmmaker, cinema is growing a lot because now it pays, which wasn't the case before.

Now cinema can support someone, though not everyone, he said,

The industry has matured with improved equipment and a growing pool of actors, but challenges remain.

"What remains is for our audience to start trusting us and loving our work more," said Mazimpaka, pointing to the need for stronger local audience development.

For this young director, cinema is more than just a profession. it's "I don't have another job besides working in cinema," he states. "I love it; this is my passion."

With 12 film projects already under his belt, Mazimpaka's ambitions extend beyond his personal success. Within five years, he envisions himself as a director who has laid a strong foundation for the film industry in Rwanda and East Africa, winning awards and expanding his work.