Cynthia Butare


Cynthia Butare, is a Rwandan–Swiss filmmaker as well as a videographer. She is best known as the director of critically acclaimed Rwandan film Kickin' It With The Kinks.

Personal life

She was born in about 1988 in Geneva, Switzerland. She lived there until the end of high school and she then moved to UK for higher studies.

Career

She obtained a bachelor's degree in Digital Media and Communications and later completed a Master's in Documentary Practice at Manchester Metropolitan University. In 2011, she made the short film Kickin' It With The Kinks for her university project. The film received a prize for best documentary in her department. Later in 2016, Cynthia along with her friend Mundia, decided to produce a longer version of the film. The film received critical acclaim and screened at several international film festivals. In the same year, she started her own company, 'CB Production'.
While a teenager, she started blogging in 2003. Even though she stopped blogging after three years, she restarted it in 2012. In 2013, Butare received the Award for Best Blog of The Year by the BEFFTA. However, she moved to Rwanda in 2014. While in Rwanda, she made her second documentary film, Ishimwa: From Bloodshed To Grace. It was screened as part of the Rwanda Film Festival. She was working on a project called The Return in 2015.

Filmography

YearFilmRoleGenreRef.
2013Tears & Blood Behind Made In ChinaVideographerDocumentary short film
2016Kickin' It With The KinksDirectorDocumentary film
2019Ishimwa: From Bloodshed To GraceDirectorDocumentary film