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by Dan Perkins
Source: WMM Press
Release
Kimberlee
Acquaro and Stacy Sherman have made a
powerful film that explores the aftermath of the Rwandan
conflict in 1994. Their film, called God Sleeps in
Rwanda, provides a hopeful look at a nation that is
still in midst of recovery, more than a decade later.
The Rwandan genocide radically transformed the landscape
of Rwanda, leaving a population that is nearly 70%
female. This situation poses an extraordinary burden
and an unprecedented opportunity for Rwandan women.
God Sleeps in Rwanda examines how five courageous
women are attempting to rebuild their lives and bring
hope to a deeply wounded nation.
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The
Aftermath of
Genocide in Rawanda |
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Before the 1994 Rwandan
genocide boys outnumbered
girls in school by 9 to 1.
Today boys and girls attend
school in equal numbers.
|
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Before the genocide fewer
than 6 percent of college
graduates were female. Today
women make up as much as 50
percent of the student body
on Rwandan college campuses.
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Before the genocide the
government was just over 5
percent female. Today, women
make up 30 percent of
Rwanda’s local leadership
and almost a quarter of
national leadership.
|
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The Rwandan parliament
(lower house) is 49 percent
women – the highest
percentage of women in any
parliament in the world. |
Source: God Sleeps in Rwanda website |
The Oscar nomination is the latest in a string of
distinguished awards for this documentary. Other recent
awards include:
-
Aspen Shorts Fest - Audience Award
-
Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films
- Audience Award
-
Silverdocs/AFI Discovery Channel Documentary Festival
- Audience Award & Jury Special mention
-
Ojai Film Festival - Festival Award
-
Jackson Hole Docuweek IDA - Critic's Choice Award
-
International Documentary Association - Nominee,
Distinguished Short Film & Pare Lorentz Award
The two filmmakers have distinguished careers.
Kimberlee Acquaro is a filmmaker and photojournalist
whose work has appeared in THE NEW YORK TIMES
MAGAZINE, THE WASHINGTON POST MAGAZINE,
TIME MAGAZINE and many international publications.
Stacy Sherman has written screenplays for 20th
Century Fox and Tri-Star Pictures and is
currently writing a screenplay for Imagine
Entertainment & Warner Brothers.
God Sleeps in Rwanda is available for purchase
through the Women Making Movies web site at:
www.wwm.com. Women Make Movies is the world's
leading distributor of independent films by and about
women, with a focus on cutting-edge documentaries that
give depth to today's headlines, as well as artistically
and intellectually challenging works in all genres. The
Women Make Movies collection of more than 500 films and
videotapes is also used by thousands of educational,
community and cultural organizations annually.
The
End
Source: WMM Press
Release |
