FILMS
The Power of Film
Documentaries have been a key component of our peacebuilding and reconciliation strategy. Rwandans, especially the youth, increasingly recognise film as a powerful tool for communication. This is why three documentaries based on the story of our founder and CEO, Eric Murangwa Eugene—Football Rwanda: Fields of Memories, Soccer My Saviour, and How Football Saved My Life (produced by the BBC)—serve as invaluable resources for engaging audiences and conveying our message.
These films highlight the transformative power of sport, demonstrating its impact beyond entertainment. They showcase how sport can inspire, heal, and foster resilience—an essential message we aim to impart. Shot between 2014 and 2020 in Rwanda, London, and Brussels, they have been broadcast in Rwanda and globally.
Screenings in Rwanda provide opportunities for discussions on the past, present, and future role of sports in the country, offering young people both historical context and a sense of continuity. Furthermore, these documentaries extend Rwanda’s lessons to the world, reinforcing the imperative that the horrors of 1994 must never happen again—anywhere.
Twenty years after the genocide, Eric Murangwa Eugene the former goalkeeper of Rayon Sports and the National Football Team of Rwanda returns to his native country.
In association with former teammates who sheltered him during the 1994 genocide, Eugene created a football academy in Kigali. His involvement with the youth is prompted by his commitment to rebuild the bonds that were severed by decades of hatred.
At the image of Rwandan society, Eugene seeks to rethink the future by traversing the past. He undertakes a journey to meet survivors and former football players and hence confront the history of football that always entertained close ties with the colonial past of the country and the tragedy it underwent.
Confronted with history, and, for the first time, to the ceremonies commemorating the genocide, Eugene unveils himself little by little with modesty, aware of the difficulty of the task that awaits him.
“Football Rwanda, fields of memories” unveils the fragmented and “broken” memory of Rwandan football while at the same portraying Rwanda of today.
A film inspired by the story of former Rwandan soccer player and Ishami founder Eric Murangwa Eugene. This is a trailer for the 30 minutes documentary, directed by Kyri Evangelou, following Eric’s incredible journey and explaining his commitment to use football to promote peace to future generations affected by conflict.
In this BBC Sport Africa documentary our Founder and CEO, Eric Murangwa Eugene recalls how his life was saved thanks to the support and help he received from his teammates and fans of his former football club, Rayon Sports. The documentary is also an opportunity to raise awareness of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and talk about the work we (Ishami Foundation) are doing bringing people together to build social cohesion through sport and storytelling in Rwanda in the hope of avoiding such conflict in future.
P.S: The BBC term ‘Rwandan Genocide’ to describe what happened in Rwanda is incorrect. When talking or discussing about the 1994 events in Rwanda, we encourage you to use the terminology “The 1994 Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda” as stated by UN General Assembly Resolution A/72/L.31 of 26th January 2018. Thank you.
Echo Eternal is a commemorative arts, media, and civic engagement project delivered in schools for children of all ages. Originally inspired by testimonies from British Holocaust survivors—recorded by Natasha Kaplinsky OBE in 2015 and 2016 for the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation—the project expanded in 2020 to include three survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda who now live in the UK. For more information about the Echo Eternal Films project, please visit the CORE Education Trust website.
Together United is the result of filmmaking and artistic residencies at Arena Academy and City Academy in Birmingham, centred around the testimony of Eric Murangwa Eugene MBE, a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
As part of this project, The Echo serves as an artistic response by students to the testimony film gifted to their schools. Collaborating with CORE Education Trust to produce Echo Films presents a unique opportunity to engage young people and convey powerful messages through creative expression.
The short balletic drama film Together United is a valuable addition to our Lessons From Rwanda program, demonstrating the profound impact of sport beyond leisure and entertainment. It highlights how sport can inspire, unite, and influence people positively.
Our Founder, CEO and Genocide Survivor, Eric Murangwa Eugene explains:
“Football is more than just the excitement of the World Cup, the Champions League, or supporting our favourite Premier League clubs. Sport has the power to shape us into decent human beings and bring people together for a better world.”
He adds:
“I’m incredibly proud of the outstanding work by the students from CORE Arena Academy and CORE City Academy in Birmingham. I look forward to staying connected with this committed group of young people and their schools. This film will now be an integral part of my schools engagement program across the UK, using screenings to spark discussions on the role of sport in education, creativity, and history.”
Together United is another way to bring the Lessons From Rwanda to the world—ensuring that the tragedy that befell Rwanda 26 years ago never happens again, anywhere.
Film and Artistic Production: Mat Beckett, John Palmer, Jed Cowdell (River Rea Films)
Residency Artists: Highly Sprung Performance Company.
This video was produced as part of Ishami Foundation 25 Schools For Kwibuka25 workshop and commemoration event to mark the 25th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda at City Hall in London on May 9th 2019. The video highlights key speeches by the High Commissioner of the Republic of Rwanda in the UK HE Yamina Karitanyi, the Mayor of London Mr Sadiq Khan, Survivor of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda, Mrs Jo Ingabire Moys and other members of Ishami Foundation board of Trustees and Advisors.
This video was produced by Ishami Foundation Youth Trustee Joel Freedman to mark the 71st anniversary of the Genocide Convention on December 9th 2019. This Genocide Prevention Day we’re asking people to remember that genocide is not over. Survivors still feel the effects. And groups continue to be targeted because of their identity in Darfur, Syria, Myanmar and beyond. Please join genocide survivors in reminding all of us of the ongoing need to take action.
Eric Murangwa survived the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda. He was one of the nations top footballers at the time. In 2010, Eric founded an organisation that uses Football and storytelling to build unity, tolerance and lasting peace in his homeland and beyond.
Ishami Foundation Co-founder and CEO Eric Murangwa Eugene speaking to the kids during soccer for social impact session in Nyanza – Rwanda. The footage is part of Soccer My Saviour documentary.
A testimony by Antoinette Mushimiyimana a Survivor of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda at Kwibuka24 and Kwibuka Rwanda Exhibition at the University of Oxford – April 21st 2018
held at Mansfield College and the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford.
Read more about the event and the exhibition:
https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/content/kwib…
A film featuring three survivors from Rwanda, Bosnia and the Holocaust. The film highlights the process of discrimination and dehumanisation which is common to all genocides. It is part of #FightHateWithRights campaign championed by Rights Info Charity.
UK Commemorative Ceremony for Holocaust Memorial Day 2017, including Eric Murangwa Eugene, lighting one of the candles of remembrance.
Young people on the IWM Moving Stories Summer School interview Rwandan survivor and Ishami founder Eric Murangwa Eugene about his experience of forced migration and displacement as a result of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Interview with Rwandan footballer and Ishami founder Eric Murangwa Eugene for the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on April 6th. Eric takes viewers to Rwanda to see how sport has become a pillar to foster peace, reconcile communities and empower young Rwandans to build a positive future.