Rwanda submits Marie‑Clementine Dusabejambo’s ‘Ben Imana’ as its first Oscar International Feature entry

The film, a Cannes‑awarded drama about post‑genocide reconciliation, will compete for the 2027 Best International Feature Oscar.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 08 Oct 2026 22:16:25 GMT

Rwanda has entered the 99th Academy Awards International Feature race for the first time, submitting Marie‑Clementine Dusabejambo’s debut film Ben Imana, according to both The Hollywood Reporter and Variety.

What happened

The film, which premiered in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section, won the Caméra d’Or for best first feature and the FIPRESCI prize. After its Cannes debut, it screened at the Toronto Film Festival and is slated to appear at the London Film Festival later this month. The North American release is planned for February 19, 2027, in the United Kingdom and March 2027 in the United States. MK2 is handling world sales, and the picture is a majority co‑production between Rwanda and Gabon with minority partners France, Norway and Côte d’Ivoire.

What the reports add

The Hollywood Reporter emphasizes that this is the first ever Oscar submission from Rwanda, marking a historic moment for the nation’s cinema.
Variety notes the film is told through the eyes of a community of women and provides the official synopsis, highlighting the post‑genocide setting in 2012.
Both outlets confirm the film’s North American premiere at Toronto and its upcoming U.K. theatrical launch on Feb. 19, 2027, followed by a U.S. release in March via Alexander, the newly launched distribution arm of producer Cameron Lamb.

What was said

“The selection marks a historic moment for Rwandan cinema, with Ben Imana becoming the first film ever officially submitted by Rwanda for the Academy Awards,”

— Alexander, the newly launched film distribution arm of producer Cameron Lamb, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.

“In 2012, 18 years after the genocide against the Tutsi, a Rwandan village is still learning how to live with itself. Vénéranda has spent years helping survivors and the families of those responsible speak the words that were never said between them. However, forgiveness comes easier when it’s someone else’s story. When her own daughter’s future becomes entangled with the past, Vénéranda is forced to find her own words at last.”

— Synopsis provided by Variety.

How it came about

Rwanda’s entry follows a wave of first‑time submissions from other nations, such as the Philippines and Italy, which Felo News covered in September 2026 (Philippines submits ‘Filipiñana’ and Italy names ‘The Spiral’). The Cannes accolades boosted the film’s profile, leading to its acquisition by Alexander for English‑language territories. The film was written by Dusabejambo in collaboration with Delphine Agut, shot by cinematographer Mostafa El Kashef, edited by Nadia Ben Rachid, and scored by Rwandan singer‑songwriter Igor Mabano. It stars Isabelle Kabano, Clémentine U. Nyirinkindi and Kesia Kelly Nishimwe.

Key facts

Rwanda submitted Marie‑Clementine Dusabejambo’s debut feature ‘Ben Imana’ for the 99th Academy Awards International Feature category. (hollywoodreporter.com)
The film won the Caméra d’Or and the FIPRESCI prize at Cannes. (variety.com)
‘Ben Imana’ will be released in UK theatres on Feb. 19 2027 and in the US in March 2027. (variety.com)