Theatrical Distribution Collective Dedicated to Black Independent Cinema Announces Second Film KINYARWANDA
Monday, July 4, 2011 at 5:50PM Los Angeles, CA – AFFRM, the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement, has acquired U.S. theatrical rights to the 2011 Sundance Audience Award winner for World Cinema Drama, KINYARWANDA. Written and directed by Alrick Brown, KINYARWANDA is the first film conceived within Rwanda and produced by Rwandans regarding the 1994 genocide that saw one million lives lost in 100 days. KINYARWANDA interweaves six true tales into one epic narrative, confronting the realities of forgiveness in the face of vengeance. The film will be released in theaters November 2011.
KINYARWANDA will mark the second feature from AFFRM, the theatrical distribution entity powered by the nation’s top black film festival organizations. The collective activates quality black independent films with simultaneous theatrical engagements in select cities. AFFRM’s inaugural feature was the critically-acclaimed drama, “I Will Follow,” released in March 2011 to an opening weekend per screen average of $11,428 without a formal advertising or marketing budget.
“We’re truly honored to release KINYARWANDA with Alrick Brown and his amazing producing team. AFFRM’s mission is to shine a light on the work of black filmmakers and to meaningfully connect their films to both black consumers and film lovers of every hue,” explained Ava DuVernay, Founder of AFFRM. “This project is an exquisite, important piece of filmmaking that deserves to be seen in a theatrical environment and promoted with the vigor and passion that AFFRM offers.”
KINYARWANDA is produced by Darren Dean and Tommy Oliver with executive producer Ishmael Ntihabose. Alrick Brown directs from his screenplay, with story by Ntihabose. Cassandra Freeman, Edouard Bamporiki and Cleophas Kabasitain star. Cinematography by Danny Vecchione, with editing by Tovah Leibowitz.