Kigali Convention Centre, the venue for the forum
Audio visual key players, donors, students and financiers from across the world will convene in Kigali next week to discuss trends in the sector and available business opportunities.
The first of its kind in the region, the annual Kigali Audiovisual Forum is set to take place at the Kigali Convention Center from 21-23, November 2018.
The forum is set to provide networking opportunities for audiovisual professionals from across the globe.
It will also focus on Africa‘s ability to use technology in storytelling, development and professionalization of audio-visual structures and industries as well as development of professional skills in production and distribution.
Furthermore, discussions will expound on producing exportable, authentic African content and helping budding continental producers to initiate co-financing and cross-border content production of projects.
Organizers promise the delegates that they will enjoy workshops on pitching project ideas as well as deliberating on development of public financing mechanisms for the film and media sector.
“I am delighted that we are hosting the first ever such audiovisual forum in the region. As Rwanda Development Board (RDB), we believe that leveraging the storytelling abilities of our African youth can play a major role in changing negative global stereotypes of Africa,” said Clare Akamanzi, RDB’s Chief Executive Officer(CEO).
According to Akamanzi, “these stereotypes have impacted foreign investments on the continent and that is why I believe that supporting this forum will bear good fruits in the future.”
“African audiovisual professionals have the talent. With this forum they will get the opportunity to learn best practices from the top professionals in the industry”, she said.
The Kigali AudioVisual Forum is organized by a range of partners including; RDB, GIZ, European Union, The European Film Festival, French Embassy to Rwanda, CISAC, The Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI), Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, Pavillon Afriques and Rwanda’s national flag carrier, RwandAir.
As a key partner, EU does not take this initiative for granted.
“I am pleased that we have entered into collaboration with Rwanda Development Board for the implementation of International Kigali Audiovisual Forum as well as for organization of our European Film Festival in Kigali, Muhanga and Rubavu,” said Ambassador Nicola Bellomo, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Rwanda.
Bellomo further said; “Our cooperation on the implementation of the two events, which run in parallel this year, creates an opportunity for more dialogue about the role of culture in development and what Africa and Europe can achieve together in this area. I look forward to more similar initiatives in future.”
Meanwhile, the list of key speakers includes Clare Akamanzi, the CEO of RDB, Giorgio Ficarelli, Head of Cultural Sector at Directorate General for International development and Cooperation for European Commission and Matthijs Wouter Knol, the Director of Berlinale European Film Market.
Philipp Hoffmann, Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Rushlake Media and Sarika Lakhani, Managing Partner and Producer of One Fine Day Films will also join the key speakers.
Details on this forum are available at http://www.kaf.rw/.
