Ben'Imana
| Ben'Imana | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Marie Clémentine Dusabejambo |
| Written by |
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| Produced by | |
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Mostafa El Kashef |
| Edited by | Nadia ben Rachid |
| Music by | Igor Mabano |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | MK2 Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 96 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | Kinyarwanda |
Ben'Imana is a 2026 drama film directed by Marie Clémentine Dusabejambo, co-written with Delphine Agut. It stars Clémentine U. Nyirinkindi, Isabelle Kabano, Kesia Kelly Nishimwe and Leocadie Uwabeza.
The film had its world premiere at the Un Certain Regard section of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival where it won the Caméra d'Or.[1] It was the first film directed by a Rwandan filmmaker to be included in the festival's official selection.[2]
Premise
Set in Rwanda in 2012, the film follows Vénéranda, a survivor of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, who is involved in community-led justice and reconciliation. As she faces mounting pressures in her work, a personal crisis within her family forces her to confront the limits of her beliefs.
Cast
- Clémentine U. Nyirinkindi as Vénéranda[3]
- Isabelle Kabano as Suzanne
- Kesia Kelly Nishimwe as Tina
- Léocadie Uwabeza as Madeleine
- Antoinette Uwamahoro as Victoire
- Aime Valens Tuyisenge as Karangwa
Production
Ben'Imana was developed through a series of international development labs and co-production programs, including Lim – Less Is More programme in 2020,[4] La Fabrique Cinéma,[5] the Atlas Workshops at the Marrakech International Film Festival,[6] and Ouaga Film Lab.[2]
The project received additional financial backing from the Berlinale World Cinema Fund, the Norwegian Sørfond, and the Red Sea Film Festival's Souk Awards.[2]
The film is produced by Ejo Cine.Ltd (Rwanda) and Princesse M Prod (Gabon), in co-production with Les Films du Bilboquet (France) and Duo Film (Norway). The project was presented at La Fabrique Cinéma at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022 by director Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo and producer Samantha Biffot. International sales are handled by MK2 Films.[7]
Release
Ben'Imana had its world premiere at the Un Certain Regard section of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, one of three African films selected for the section in 2026.[8]
Reception
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on 14 reviews, with an average rating of 8.8/10.[9]
References
- ↑ "The Screenings Guide of the 79th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. 2026-05-07. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- 1 2 3 Nkunda, Mutiganda wa (2026-04-09). "'Ben'Imana' Makes History as First Film by a Rwandan Director to Premiere in the Cannes Official Selection". Sinema Focus. Retrieved 2026-04-26.
- ↑ "BEN'IMANA". Festival de Cannes. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
- ↑ "Ben'imana". Le Groupe Ouest. Retrieved 2026-04-26.
- ↑ Rheeder, Stephan (2022-05-05). "Three African projects supported by the Fabrique Cinéma programme - ART AFRICA Magazine". Retrieved 2026-04-26.
- ↑ Foreman, Liza (2022-11-11). "Atlas Workshops: Compelling Next Generation Projects From Morocco, Africa, the Arab World". Variety. Retrieved 2026-04-26.
- ↑ Goodfellow, Melanie (2026-04-10). "MK2 Boards Ground-Breaking Rwandan Cannes-Selected Film 'Ben'Imana'". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-04-26.
- ↑ Lasisi, Seyi (2026-04-15). "Three African Titles Selected for 2026 Cannes Un Certain Regard". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.). Retrieved 2026-04-26.
- ↑ "Ben'Imana". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 25 June 2026.