"Munyurangabo" For Film Movement

A scene from Lee Isaac Chung's "Munyurangabo." Image courtesy of Film Movement.

Lee Isaac Chung's "Munyurangabo" has been acquired for North American release by Film Movement, it was announced today. Directed by first-time American filmmaker Chung, "Munyurangabo" explores the lives, adventures and travails of two Rwandan teenagers. It is the first narrative feature shot in the native Kinyarwanda dialect, and its entirely non-professional cast and crew consisted of "genocide orphans, returned refugees, and other undereducated locals barely making a living in the village where the film was shot."

The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival (Un Certain Regard), and was also selected for the Berlin International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and New Directors/New Films, among others, in 2008.

The acquisition of "Munyurangabo" was negotiated by Film Movement's Adley Gartenstein, President, and Rebeca Conget, VP of Acquisitions and Distribution, and UMedia's Frederic Corvez.

"This is an incredibly special film, in many ways, that we believe will soon become a world cinema classic," said Rebeca Conget, Film Movement's VP of Acquisitions and Distribution, in a statement. "We feel extremely proud to give 'Munyurangabo' a home in North America, and look forward to sharing its compelling story and artistry with audiences."

The film will open in theaters in late May, 2009.