GERMANY: "HOTEL RWANDA" PREMIERES AT THE BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL

Record ID: 387079

  • Title: GERMANY: "HOTEL RWANDA" PREMIERES AT THE BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL
  • Date: 11th February 2005
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (FEBRUARY 11, 2005) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) WIDE OF EXTERIOR OF 'BERLINALE PALAST' AT NIGHT WIDE OF MEDIA VARIOUS OF ACTRESS SOPHIE OKONEDO AND ACTOR DON CHEADLE ARRIVING AND POSING SLV MEDIA SLV OKONEDO AND CHEADLE POSING SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOPHIE OKONEDO SAYING: "I mean it's all really exciting because people are going to watch a film, we didn't kn
  • Embargoed: 26th February 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BERLIN, GERMANY AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: Germany
  • Reuters ID: LVABZQX7MAH9JVPLUJYVHM78SNNS
  • Story Text: Oscar nominated film, "Hotel Rwanda" makes its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.
    For Paul Rusesabagina, the hotel manager who witnessed the ethnic cleaning atrocities in Rwanda in 1984 and whose actions inspired the Academy Award nominated film, "Hotel Rwanda," attending the Berlin Film Festival with his family is a once-in-lifetime opportunity.
    "It's very exciting, especially for the first time I have come to a festival with my whole family, my wife and children, and grandchildren. I used to attend festivals either without my wife, or alone. And today, it's very exciting to see that everybody has gathered here," Rusesabagina he told Reuters.
    Based upon a true life story, Rusesabagina, a four-star hotel manager, challenged military and government officials in his efforts to save 1200 Tutsis and Hutus.
    Don Cheadle stars in the true story alongside Sophie Okonedo, who says the epic film is also a love story.
    "Essentially in the end it is kind of uplifting, said Sophie.
    "It shows that human spirit overcomes adversity and as a kind of love story going on between me and Don's character that's really true and beautiful and I think that sort of caries through the film all the way. And although we are making a film of a true subject, we are film makers, who want to make entertainment in a way. So it's not a documentary, it is a story which pulls you in."
    With three Oscar nominations to its name, all eyes will be on "Hotel Rwanda" on Sunday, February 27, 2005 for the 77th annual Academy Awards.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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