Month: February 2020

He showed his film “1972 Broken Hearts” at Cabaret Buja-BW, a regular event organized by the SEZ’s Burundi Competence Center. The documentary features orphans, widows, survivors and witnesses to the 1972 massacre. Around 250.000 people died in this genocide. Patrick Hajayandi's film, directed by Amany Papy, aims to help heal the wounds that this event has left in the collective consciousness of the Burundian population to this day.

Papy used his stay in Stuttgart for networking discussions, including with the Baden-Württemberg Film Academy, the Stuttgart Film Office and the Baden-Württemberg Foundation. “Perhaps this will lead to joint projects,” he hopes. By networking with the Baden-Württemberg and - through the Berlinale - international film scene, he wants to raise awareness of Burundi and strengthen Burundi's competitiveness in this area.

The Berlinale is also important to him personally. His first participation in 2009 was a real career booster for him. “It is an important network for me and connects me to the world. The Berlinale inspires me. Here I can share my passion for film with like-minded people. And it's also an important opportunity for me to get myself up to speed technically and to see what's new. The Berlinale Africa Hub in particular is for me and my country access to the European market and an important place for cultural exchange.”

The founder of the Burundi Film Center implements the innovations in his work. He is the first person in Burundi to use drones for filming, creating breathtaking images of the East African country.

The Cabaret Buja-BW with Amani Papy also gave the SEZ the opportunity to address new interested parties and win them over to the foundation's topics. And it was a way to strengthen the Burundian film scene. A big thank you to the Stuttgarter Weltcafé, which provided the premises for the event.

You can find out more about the Burundi Film Center here.