Among the rising stars emerging in different fields of Rwanda’s cinema is Philémon Karemera whose journey from an aspiring actor to a multifaceted filmmaker showcases what the growth and resilience of Rwanda's film industry has to offer. Born in Gisagara District in the Southern region of Rwanda, Karemera's path to filmmaking began shortly after completing high school in 2019. He moved to Kigali in 2020 with a dream of breaking into the film industry. I grew up with the love of cinema,” he said adding, “I always felt that somehow I would become like Seburikoko (Gratien Niyitegeka), whom I admire greatly to the point that I try to emulate his work,” he recalls. Karemera enrolled at Kigali Film and Television School (KFTV) to pursue filmmaking, particularly focusing on camera and editing. However, his formal education was cut short when COVID-19 brought the school activities to a major halt just a few months into his studies. Classes shifted online before eventually pausing altogether, with promises of resumption after the pandemic. During the lockdown, what could have been a setback turned to becme an opportunity when Karemera met Wilson Misago, the director of Afrifame Pictures. This connection led to an internship in wedding video editing, gloomed by a certain mentor named Prince. When Zacu Entertainment posted a casting call for a film called 'Indoto' to be aired on Rwanda television, it felt like a blessing. I saw it as an opportunity to pursue my dreams of becoming a prominent film actor,” says Karemera. When he arrived at the casting, the production team saw something different in him, not just an actor, but someone with the energy and potential to work behind the scenes. They brought him on as a runner, where he quickly became a valued crew member. Working under popular director Mutiganda wa Nkunda and assistant irector Israel Dusabe Busine, he persistently asked for chances to act. His breakthrough came when Busine trusted him with the role of ’Serugendo’, a household worker in the production. I worked with a lot of fear on the first film. I felt that if I failed, my opportunities and lifelong dreams would be lost. Despite initial nervousness, encouragement from the director helped me overcome my fears, and my performance impressed the team,” he recalls. Karemera’s career expanded when his friend Valens, who worked in sound, offered to teach him sound recording and grip techniques. With additional encouragement from Director Israel to diversify his skills, he embraced the technical side of filmmaking. When you do something you're passionate about, you learn quickly, he explains. Today, he counts himself among Rwanda's quality sound recordists while continuing to act and work as a grip technician. Karemera's technical contributions now span numerous productions. His sound work includes projects like Shuwadilu, Indoto, City Maid, and upcoming movie series The Bridge Of Christmas. As a grip, he has worked on Indoto, served as Assistant Grip for Ejo Si Kera. He also contributed to The Bishop's Family and Ishusho ya Papa. From Karemera’s perspective, Rwandan cinema has made remarkable progress for which he would be proud to be part of the journey which he admits still has miles to walk to reach to top. Rwandan cinema has reached an impressive level, considering where we started. Now we have good equipment that produces quality images and sound. Before, we faced challenges due to lack of good equipment,” he says. He envisions himself continuing to gain experience and expanding his equipment collection over the next five years. I see myself five years from now as someone who will have gained extensive experience in Cinema, owning many more pieces of expensive equipment so that no project will cry about lack of equipment. For those in Rwanda's film industry, Karemera offers words of encouragement that looking at where the industry came from and where it is now gives great confidence to work at levels they never thought they would reach.
