‘Why We Dance’ begins its film festival tour with first award!

We are thrilled to share that the documentary short film ‘Why We Dance’ by filmmaker Marc Ellison, part of the Rwanda Research Cluster, has received its first two official selections and an award at film festivals. The film features Jerome Irankunda, a survivor of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and graphic artist Michel Kichka, who interviewed Jerome to create a graphic novel about his life and experiences during and after the genocide.

The first is the Toronto/Los Angeles Documentary Feature and Short Film Festival, where the film was screened as part of the official program in Toronto and awarded the ‘Best Short Documentary’ Audience Award. Audience responses to the film are available to view here: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-why-we-dance

The second is the IndieFEST Film Awards, an international competition that does not include a live screening component.

The film is currently awaiting further award announcements from both festivals, where selections are judged by panels of award-winning industry experts and filmmakers.

The trailer is available to view on our SCVN YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAe5d6evLEk, and you can learn more about Jerome and Michel’s collaboration on the Rwanda Research Cluster page.

Congratulations to Marc and the Rwanda Research Cluster on this recognition!