Un Certain Regard selects first CAR, Rwanda films

Festival de Cannes included Rafiki Fariala’s “Congo Boy” and Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo’s “Ben’Imana” in the 2026 Un Certain Regard selection, according to the festival’s official lineup. The selections put films from the Central African Republic and Rwanda into Cannes’ official selection for the first time, as first reported by Variety and confirmed by the festival’s own film pages and press materials. Both films are also marked as first features in the Un Certain Regard slate. ### Which films were selected, and where do they sit inside Cannes? The April 9 Cannes announcement listed “BEN’IMANA” by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo and “CONGO BOY” by Rafiki Fariala in Un Certain Regard, the festival section that runs inside the official selection alongside Competition, Cannes Premiere and other strands. The festival updated that official selection list again on April 23, and both titles remained in the lineup. (festival-cannes.com) The 2026 festival is the 79th edition of Cannes and runs from May 12 to May 23, according to the festival’s programming pages. Cannes says the full schedule and reservations are available through its online ticketing and programming system. ### Why are these two entries drawing attention beyond the lineup itself? Variety reported on May 15 that the two films mark the first time the Central African Republic and Rwanda have appeared in Cannes’ official selection. (festival-cannes.com) The festival’s own materials confirm the films’ presence in Un Certain Regard, but the “first-ever” national milestone is attributed to Variety’s reporting. (festival-cannes.com) The same Cannes lineup shows both projects labeled as “1st film,” which places them among the debut features in this year’s Un Certain Regard group. That matters in practical terms because the section regularly serves as a launchpad for new directors and emerging national cinemas, though Cannes itself simply identifies the titles as first films in the official materials. (variety.com) ### What is “Congo Boy” about? “Congo Boy” is a 95-minute feature directed by Rafiki Fariala and produced across the Central African Republic, France, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Italy, according to the Cannes film page. The story follows Robert, a 17-year-old Congolese refugee in Bangui who dreams of a music career while caring for four younger siblings after his parents are arrested. The Cannes synopsis says Robert juggles odd jobs, school exams and militia violence in the city before learning of a music competition. (festival-cannes.com) Variety reported that Fariala previously made “We, Students!,” which it described as the first feature from the Central African Republic to play at the Berlin film festival in 2022. ### What is “Ben’Imana” about? “Ben’Imana” is a 101-minute feature directed by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo and produced by companies in Rwanda, Gabon, France, Norway and Côte d’Ivoire, according to Cannes. (festival-cannes.com) The film is set in Rwanda in 2012 and centers on Vénéranda, a genocide survivor involved in dialogue and reconciliation efforts between victims and families of perpetrators. The Cannes synopsis says Vénéranda’s work is tested when she learns of her daughter’s unexpected pregnancy and is forced to confront contradictions in her own past and beliefs. (festival-cannes.com) The festival identifies the film as Dusabejambo’s first feature. ### Where can readers track what happens next at Cannes? Festival de Cannes says the 2026 programming schedule is published on its official site, where screenings and events for the May 12-23 festival are listed. “Congo Boy” and “Ben’Imana” are part of the Un Certain Regard selection already posted in the festival’s official materials, and further details on screening times are available through Cannes programming pages and film entries. (festival-cannes.com 1) (festival-cannes.com 2)