To him, storytelling is more than a way to entertain. It is a way to make sense of painful experiences, share stories that might otherwise go unheard, and speak for people who have lived through similar struggles. His love for radio dramas as a child helped shape the path he would later pursue in cinema.

Jean Tresor Muhoza, known as Tresor, is a Rwandan actor whose work spans television series, feature films, and short films. He has played Karingushyo in Seburikoko, Tanazi in Papa Sava, and Peter in Injustice. In 2026, he expanded his work behind the camera by writing, directing, and producing his short film Heartbroken.

Finding his way into cinema

Tresor grew up in difficult circumstances and lost both parents while he was young. Despite these challenges, he continued his education and graduated from the University of Rwanda with a degree in Electrical Power Engineering.

His interest in cinema began in childhood, when he enjoyed listening to radio dramas and connecting their stories to his own life. As he grew older, he began to see the entertainment industry as a way to work through his experiences, share them with the public, and speak for people who had gone through similar struggles.

“I joined cinema because, from childhood, I loved listening to radio dramas and connecting them to the life I was living. I felt that, as I grew older, I would join the entertainment industry because it could help me heal from my wounds, share my stories with the public, and speak for people who had gone through similar experiences,” he says.

After completing secondary school in 2017, Tresor wanted to pursue cinema, but living in a rural area and lacking the money to travel to Kigali made it difficult to connect with people in the industry.

His opportunity to study in Kigali at the former Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), now part of the University of Rwanda, brought him closer to other aspiring creatives. They began making films together, although some projects were never released because they lacked the necessary resources.

Building an acting career

Tresor’s career began gaining momentum in 2021. He appeared in Long-Distance, a film by Umutoni Asia, who later cast him in the series Gatarina. That same year, he approached director Mukandasubwa Carine about her series Ibara ry’Urukundo, and she also gave him a role.

In 2022, he appeared in The Bishop’s Family as Tharcise, a domestic worker in Bishop Dan’s home. He also joined Seburikoko, which aired on Rwanda Television (RTV), playing Karingushyo, Seburikoko’s son with another woman.

That year, Tresor won ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi in the acting and drama category, known as Ikinamico n’Urwenya. The win marked an important milestone as he continued developing his craft.

His screen work continued with the feature film Injustice in 2023, in which he played Peter, and the YouTube series Papa Sava, where he appeared as Tanazi. In 2024, he joined Kaliza wa Kalisa, which aired on ZACU TV.

Jean Tresor Umuhoza in Papa Sava as Tanazi

His other credits include the feature film Urunigi, a background performance in Neptune Frost, and the short film Weaving Bond, in which he played Rugamba. In 2026, he appeared as Bogari in Ntirumera.

Taking his stories behind the camera

Tresor is also building experience behind the camera. In 2026, he worked with the assistant directors’ team on the historical Rwandan feature The Battle of Bisesero, while also appearing in the film as a frightened man.

That same year, he wrote, directed, and produced Heartbroken, a short film currently making its way through film festivals. The project marks another step toward his ambition to become a filmmaker who can take on different roles, from acting and screenwriting to directing and producing.

For Tresor, that ambition also includes helping other creatives find their footing, particularly young people in rural areas who may have talent but struggle to develop and showcase it because of their circumstances.

“My goal is to become a great filmmaker so that I can also help other talents grow, especially young people in rural areas, where it is difficult to showcase their talents because of the circumstances they live in,” he says.

As Tresor continues working across acting and filmmaking, he hopes to build a career that allows him to tell the stories that matter to him while helping other young creatives bring their own stories to the screen.