Samuel Ishimwe

Samuel Ishimwe Karemangingo (born 1991), is a Rwandan filmmaker. He is best known as the director of critically acclaim short film Imfura, where he became the first Rwandan filmmaker represented at Berlinale. Apart from being a director, he is also a cinematographer, editor, sound engineer, screenwriter and producer.

Personal life He was born in 1991 in Kigali, Rwanda. His mother left him when he was a baby and he lost his parents and family member during the Rwandan genocide. In 2011, he made the maiden short film Paying debts which was screened in the Rwanda Film Festival. In the same year, he participated in a documentary workshop in Uganda conducted by Maisha Film Lab. While in Uganda, he worked as an assistant producer on short documentary Invisible souls. Later in 2011, he participated in a documentary film directing workshop called 'K-dox' conducted by James Longley. In June 2012, Ishimwe finished a 3 months intensive course on filmmaking at Kwetu Film Institute. Then in September 2012, he participated in writing and directing program called 'A Sample of Work'.

He wrote the script of Crossing Lines and won an award in a local scriptwriting competition organised by Goethe Institute Rwanda. Later he worked as a journalist and photographer after graduating from National University of Rwanda.

Filmography

Year Film Role Genre Ref. 2011 Paying debts director Short film 2011 Invisible souls assistant producer Short film 2014 Crossing Lines director Short film 2014 Uruzi director Short film 2016 The Liberators cinematographer Short film 2016 Versus cinematographer Short film 2017 Imfura director, screenplay, cinematographer, editor, sound designer Short film 2018 I got my Things and Left cinematographer, producer Short film 2020 Fish Bowl producer, cinematographer Short film