Benimana

Veneranda, a survivor of the genocide against the Tutsi, has built a life rooted in reconciliation and restraint. But when her daughter reveals an unexpected pregnancy, the quiet order she’s clung to begins to unravel.

Jury Statement: 

Benimama is a compelling intergenerational drama that examines the quiet aftershocks of trauma within a Rwandan community. Benimama has deep emotional clarity and precision. The script handles silence, generational grief, and unspoken tension with restraint and purpose. Benimama offers a powerful and specific look at the personal cost of collective trauma. It shows how reconciliation is not a final act but an ongoing negotiation – one that plays out in kitchens, glances, and ruptured routines. It is an honest, layered narrative that resonates far beyond its setting.

Benimana was supported in 2025 with 700 000 NOK.