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New $5.6 million Kigali Innovation Centre to offer free filming, audio, editing training

Thursday October 25 2018
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The proposed centre will offer multimedia training. PHOTO | CYRIL NDEGEYA

By ARAFAT MUGABO

The newly completed Kigali Innovation Centre will provide free training on film shooting, audio visual editing, acting, animations, camera operations and scriptwriting in its first phase of operations beginning next year.

The $5.6 million modern centre will only offer free training to those with advanced level certificates in any field or with skills related to multimedia.

According to Felix Siboniyo, the Public Asset Division Manager at the Rwanda Development Board, the government realised it would be difficult to develop the country’s entertainment industry without good quality, modern centres for learning.

“We believe that the revenue that was being taken abroad by artistes to shoot films will now remain here because the studios at the centre are of a high standard, while the producers of highly qualified.

We will be offering trainings in audio visual, mobile application designs, script writing and acting. We will offer free training to start-ups and individuals with the aim of increasing job creation and export of ICT services,” said Mr Siboniyo.

Ashraf Nvuyekure Devy a professional audio producer — better known as name Davidenko — said he charges a minimum $100 to produce an audio track. He said that to record or shoot an audio or video outside the country can cost up to $4,000.

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Alexis Ntare, the ICT Division Manager at the Rwanda Private Sector Federation said the main objective of the Kigali Innovation Centre is not to make money but to equip participants with necessary skills to enable them to improve their welfare.

“In the first phase the centre will focus on providing audio visual production skills, filmmaking, acting, script writing, and creating mobile apps for selling. All this will be on international standards,” Mr. Ntare said.

Rwanda Today has learnt that there is interest from international filmmakers who are exploring the possibility of producing films in the country.

On the day that Rwanda Today visited the centre, there were technicians from Rwanda and South Korea designing the recording studios, and installing software and equipment.

Starting from next year, the school will receive about 200 trainees who will undergo training ranging between three to one year depending on the level of skills of the participants. Graduates will be given certificates at the end of training.

The school was built by the government in co-operation with the South Korean International Co-operation Agency. It’s located at the Integrated Regional Polytechnic Centre Kigali.

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