From October 7–9, Minister of State for Youth and Arts, Hon. Sandrine Umutoni, participated in the 2nd Edition of the Africa Cinema Summit, held in Accra, Ghana.

Minister Umutoni made a notable contribution to the opening ceremony of this prestigious three-day event, which brings together cinema industry stakeholders from across the globe. The summit serves as a vital platform to explore the vast opportunities and address the unique challenges facing Africa’s burgeoning film industry.

Her presence at the summit reinforced Rwanda’s leadership in promoting African creative industries through film, aligning with the broader vision of economic and creative empowerment across the continent.

During her remarks, Minister of State Sandrine Umutoni called for urgent and strategic collaboration among African and global stakeholders.

She emphasized the importance of establishing co-production treaties to facilitate seamless joint productions across borders.

She also championed the creation of African film funds, underpinned by public-private partnerships, as essential for ensuring the sector's sustainable growth. 

Furthermore, she stressed the need for diversified distribution channels to ensure African stories reach wider global audiences.

In addition to her official address, MoS Umutoni held high-level bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the summit. She met with Ghana’s Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Andrews Kofi Egyapa Mercer, where they committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation for the promotion of arts and culture in both nations.

Accompanied by Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Rosemary Mbabazi, MoS Umutoni also held a courtesy meeting with King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the GA Mantse of the Ghana Traditional Council. Their discussion focused on the shared importance of cultural heritage and the role of leadership in fostering unity.

His Majesty expressed great admiration for Rwanda’s transformative journey over the past three decades, particularly in the area of environmental conservation.

He emphasized that Rwanda’s history should serve as an enduring example to the world in the fight against hate speech.
The participation of the Minister of State in the Africa Cinema Summit underscored Rwanda’s commitment to leveraging arts and cinema as powerful tools for development and unity across the continent.

Her advocacy for innovative solutions and collaborative frameworks reinforced Rwanda’s leadership in shaping the future of African cinema, inspiring stakeholders to work together toward a more prosperous and culturally enriched Africa.

Read Minister of State’s full remarks here.