Rwanda's 'Ben’imana' Marks Historic Oscar Entry for Country

WHO:

Deadline - Rwanda has selected Marie-Clementine Dusabejambo as the director of "Ben’Imana."

Variety - Marie-Clementine Dusabejambo is the filmmaker behind "Ben’Imana," which is her debut feature.

WHAT:

Deadline - The Democratic Republic of Congo has selected "Rumba Royale" as its entry for the Best International Feature Film category of the 99th Academy Awards.

Deadline - "Rumba Royale" is the second ever film submitted by the Democratic Republic of Congo for the Best International Feature Film category.

Deadline - "Ben’Imana" is Rwanda's first-ever submission to the Best International Feature Film category of the Academy Awards.

Variety - "Ben’Imana" premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival and won the Caméra d’Or and the Fipresci prize.

WHERE:

Deadline - The film "Ben’Imana" is set in Rwanda and tells a story through the eyes of a community of women.

WHEN:

Deadline - The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2026.

Variety - "Ben’Imana" is submitted for consideration at the 99th Academy Awards.

WHY:

Deadline - The selection of "Ben’Imana" marks a significant milestone for Rwanda in the context of international film recognition.

HOW:

Variety - The film was selected as Rwanda's official entry to the Oscars through a formal submission process.

(UPDATED October 8, 2026 17:12 UTC)

The Democratic Republic of Congo has chosen "Rumba Royale" as its entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the upcoming 99th Academy Awards. This marks a significant moment, as "Rumba Royale" is only the second film ever submitted by the Democratic Republic of Congo for this prestigious category. The selection highlights the country's growing presence in the global film industry.

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(UPDATED October 8, 2026 15:03 UTC)

Rwanda has made history by selecting Marie-Clementine Dusabejambo as the director of "Ben’Imana," which is her debut feature film. This groundbreaking film, set in Rwanda and told through the eyes of a community of women, is the country's first-ever submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards, following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2026, where it won the Caméra d’Or and the Fipresci prize. The selection of "Ben’Imana" represents a significant milestone for Rwanda in gaining international film recognition.