Many artists reach international stages, but only a few return home determined to expand the path for those they once walked alongside. Eliane Umuhire is one of those rare figures. After building a career that bridges Rwanda and Europe, the acclaimed actor has chosen to give back deliberately—using her voice, experience, and networks to support women while strengthening Rwanda’s cinema industry.

Umuhire is best known for her performances in Birds Are Singing in Kigali (2017) and a quiet place: Day one(2024) as Zena, roles that positioned her among the most visible Rwandan actors internationally. Yet her latest work moves beyond the screen. Inspired by conversations and reporting shared in Forbes Africa on women’s leadership and creative collaboration in Rwanda, Umuhire has stepped into a new role: that of a cultural connector and industry builder.

At the heart of this commitment is her initiative, Au cœur du Rwanda et de la sororité (In the Heart of Rwanda and Sisterhood). The project was created to foster meaningful connections between Rwandan and French women filmmakers, artists, and creative professionals. Its ambition is twofold—to uplift women in the creative industries while simultaneously contributing to the long-term growth of Rwandan cinema.

Speaking to Forbes Africa, Umuhire explained that her understanding of leadership has been shaped by working across borders and disciplines. “Working across these industries has taught me that leadership is not about authority but about empathy and vision,” she said. For her, cinema is not only an artistic space, but also a place where women can exercise leadership, collaboration, and authorship.

She has often emphasized that Rwanda’s post-reconstruction spirit plays a critical role in how creatives work together. “In Rwanda, there’s a spirit of rebuilding and collaboration,” Umuhire noted. Navigating this environment, she added, has reinforced her belief that when women lead authentically, their impact reaches far beyond film. “When women lead with authenticity, they don’t just change cinema, they change culture, by voicing that make us women feel seen and understood.”

Central to Umuhire’s vision is the idea that female success should not be treated as an exception. “I keep on believing in a world where female accomplishment isn’t an exception but rather a standard,” she said in the same interview. That belief underpins the structure of Au cœur du Rwanda et de la sororité, which focuses on exchange rather than hierarchy—mentorship rather than competition.

As part of this effort, Umuhire facilitated the arrival of Girls Support Girls, a non-profit organization founded in 2019 by Karolyne Leibovici and Vanessa Djian, dedicated to sisterhood and creative empowerment, to Rwanda. Alongside Karolyne Leibovici and Vanessa Djian, she envisioned the initiative as a bridge between Rwandese and French women creatives. “Rwanda is a place of resilience and rebirth, where women play a leading role in shaping our nation’s story,” Umuhire said. “Together, we envisioned this trip as a bridge where Rwandese and French female creatives meet, exchange ideas, and co-create across borders.”

While Rwanda is often praised for its political progress on gender equality—women hold more than 60 percent of seats in the lower house of Parliament and own a significant share of formal SMEs—Umuhire’s work highlights how these achievements can translate into cultural production. Legal reforms that support women’s ownership and leadership have helped create an environment where initiatives like hers can take root, particularly within the arts.

For the film industry, the implications are significant. By creating spaces for collaboration, international exposure, and skill-sharing, Umuhire’s initiative opens new possibilities for co-productions and professional growth. It positions Rwandan women not merely as participants, but as contributors and leaders in shaping the narratives that emerge from the country.

At a time when Rwanda’s leadership continues to frame women as a pillar of national development, cultural actors like Eliane Umuhire are giving that vision tangible form. Through Au cœur du Rwanda et de la sororité, she is supporting women, nurturing creative talent, and investing in the future of Rwandan cinema—proving that giving back can be as transformative as rising to the global stage.