Published April 16 2014
A free screening of the award-winning documentary about Rwanda, "Finding Hillywood," is scheduled for Tuesday, April 22. 6 p.m. at the Bellevue Downtown Library, Room 1, 1111 110th Avenue Northeast. The event will also feature a conversation with co-producer and co-director Leah Warshawski.
The film shows the powerful and inspiring story about how Rwanda's new media is playing a role in personal healing and empowerment. The film focuses on Ayuub Kasasa Mago, a Rwandan filmmaker whose mother was killed during the 1994 genocide and whose death drove him into a deep depression. From April 7, 1994 to mid-July, an estimated 500,000 to 1 million people in Rwanda were killed.
"Finding Hillywood" premiered at the Seattle Film Festival last year and has since won several awards, including the Critic's Award for Best Feature at the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival in Sebastopol, Calif. earlier this month and the Documentary Feature Audience Award at the Napa Valley Film Festival in November.
"It's time for a new story about Rwanda," says Warshawski. "Many people only remember what they saw on CNN 20 years ago, and there's change happening in Rwanda now. We want to highlight that change and open up new conversations. We are doing everything in our power to promote a new image of Rwanda this year, during the 20th anniversary of the genocide."
The screening is free, but reservations are strongly recommended. To RSVP, contact Kevin P. Henry (khenry@bellevuewa.gov or 425 452-7886). This screening is sponsored by the city's Diversity Program and the King County Library System.