Rwanda will have one film in the official selection of the 17th Annual Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF): What a Day, the Rwandan drama-thriller starring NIYITEGEKA Gratien.

The festival will run from October 8–11, 2026, at the Historic Hoover Theatre in San Jose, California, with 76 films representing 33 countries in its 2026 selection. SVAFF focuses on showcasing films from Africa and filmmakers of African descent.

This international platform provides an opportunity to showcase a local Rwandan story to a global audience.

Written by Iriniga Deny and co-directed by Deny and NIYITEGEKA Gratien, the 87-minute drama-thriller follows Motari Egide, a struggling motorcycle taxi rider whose attempt to steal a client’s bag sets off a chain of events that quickly spirals out of his control.

What begins as an ordinary day spirals into a series of increasingly difficult situations involving fear, guilt, and death.

While the exact screening date and time for What a Day have yet to be announced, anticipation is already building for its North American debut. Audiences and fans of Rwandan cinema can monitor the official Silicon Valley African Film Festival schedule updates as the October event draws closer.