An upcoming feature film, The Battle of Bisesero, is set to revisit one of the most harrowing chapters in Rwanda’s history, the massacres that took place in Bisesero during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The project seeks to portray themes of courage, survival, and resilience that remain central to Rwanda’s collective memory. Backed by the Ministry of Youth and Arts, the film was recently introduced at a press briefing that underscored its historical and cultural significance.

Currently in production and expected to be completed by mid-year, the film represents a landmark moment for African cinema. It is among the first major feature films on the Rwandan genocide to be fully conceived and executed by African filmmakers. The producers emphasize a strong commitment to African-led storytelling, stressing accuracy, sensitivity, and moral responsibility in handling such a painful history. A key aim is to inspire younger generations to engage with their past and take ownership of how African histories are preserved and told.

Set in Bisesero, now part of Karongi District in Rwanda’s Western Province, the film recounts the true experiences of civilians who mounted determined resistance against genocidal forces. As perpetrators retreated westward under pressure from the advancing Rwanda Patriotic Front (Inkotanyi), survivors in the region’s hills, particularly around Muyira hill, repeatedly fought back, embodying a rare and powerful spirit of defiance amid extreme violence.

The film is directed by acclaimed South African filmmaker Mandla Dube and centers on the story of a young girl, Epiphanie, and her father, Aminadabu Birara, as they struggle to survive and resist during the genocide. Birara, portrayed by London-born Nigerian actor Wale Ojo, was a real-life figure who led a small group of Tutsi vigilantes who refused to surrender despite being heavily outnumbered. His life reflects decades of survival through multiple waves of anti-Tutsi violence dating back to 1959. Ugandan actress Tracy Kababiito plays Epiphanie, describing the role as deeply meaningful and highlighting the film’s message that forgiveness is not about erasing the past, but about reclaiming one’s future.

The screenplay was co-written by Nigerian filmmaker Ema Edosio-Deelen and award-winning Rwandan director Joël Karekezi, best known for The Mercy of the Jungle, which won the Golden Stallion at FESPACO in 2019. Emmy Award-winning producer Richard Hall is also part of the project. Development took more than three years and involved extensive research and direct engagement with survivors in Bisesero. Reflecting on the film, Wale Ojo described it as a turning point for African storytelling—one that asserts Africa’s right to tell its own stories with honesty, dignity, and authority.