Young Rwandan refugee’s triumph takes center stage at Indy Shorts Film Fest

At the Indy Shorts Film Fest on July 25, Splicer Films will introduce “A Divine Journey,” a documentary covering the harrowing story of Rwandan refugee Divine Mugisha.

Mugisha’s story follows her throughout Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi as she advocates for education and mental health resources for the displaced. Mugisha’s nonprofit, Supportive Pillar Organisation, is a central focus as she strives to create change and shows her struggles in displacement.

“Filming Divine as she serves her community at Dzaleka refugee camp was an honor,” Ivanovitch Ingabire, co-director and cinematographer of “A Divine Journey,” said in a press release. “It was especially emotional as I have followed her journey since she was a young student and blossomed to become a founder of the Supportive Pillar Organisation to help communities in need.”

Since Mugisha founded her nonprofit in 2021, 42 refugees have received education due to their funding efforts. Efforts that, according to Mugisha, are at the heart of the documentary and the core of the nonprofit’s mission.

“I’ve seen people start from backgrounds where they don’t have anything, but they used the power of advocacy. They used the power of storytelling (to) build something big,” Mugisha said in a press release. “(It’s) difficult (to live) in poverty. It’s like you are living in darkness, (but the nonprofit is) something that could lift people from the darkest place where they can see light and work on their dreams.”

The Indy Shorts Film Festival is designed to explore a variety of perspectives while celebrating the art of filmmaking. This year’s festival will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 25 at the Living Room Theatres.

Annette King, producer and co-director of “A Divine Journey” and founder of Splicer Films, is eager to show audiences Mugisha’s story.

“(‘A Divine Journey’) shows us that we can find purpose and belonging throughout our communities,” King said in a press release. “(Mugisha) teaches us to foster kindness and inclusion, solving issues at a grassroots level, and she’s just an example of what it means to be a global leader.”

The film will premiere in theatre three. For more information about the film festival, visit heartlandfilm.org/indyshorts.

Films showing Black experiences will play at Indy Shorts – Indianapolis Recorder

Contact Health & Environmental reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.