After its cancellation in March 2020, Rwanda’s largest film festival, Mashariki is returning in August 2021. According to the statement released, it will be staged live from 21 to 27 of the same month, hand in hand with DISCOP, an international movie exhibition that will run from August 24 to 26 at the Kigali Convention Center. This year’s edition will run under the theme “Kagire Inkuru” (Loosely translated to ‘Tell the tale’) and will feature a different series of activities like ‘Girls in Cinema’, a workshop aimed at encouraging more women to engage themselves in the movie industry. Another expected masterclass at the Mashariki African Film Festival is Cut It, a production filmmaking workshop; as well as a session themed Disability Is Not Inability, focusing on promoting the inclusion of people living with disabilities in building the industry. During the workshops, attendees will also be trained in using simple electronic gadgets to shoot films. The sessions will be followed by an awarding ceremony during which outstanding films and filmmakers will be honored. According to the festival’s management, over 90 movies will be screened in the festival, but calls for applications will take place in February. Commenting on the festival, Tresor Senga, the festival director, said that the platform is set to showcase African cinema and heritage on a global scene: “African cinema has undergone a popular resurgence in recent years thanks to several daring films that celebrate local culture.” Launched in 2015, MAAFF celebrates African cinema culture by bringing a lineup of feature films honoring creativity, traditions, and heritage.
