Renowned correspondent Kate Adie works with Spike on Rwanda documentary
In 1997 Rwanda committed to clear their country of landmines by 2010. This film digs beneath the surface to show how the Rwandan people have met this immense challenge.
In 2009 Rwanda joined a handful of countries declared landmine-free – a year ahead of schedule.
Our documentary film broadcast the story of Rwanda successfully clearing its country of landmines to a global audience. Rwanda Beneath the Surface is narrated by Kate Adie, the renowned correspondent and journalist, who had first-hand experience of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. She was the perfect person to front this documentary.
The film premiered at the Cartegena Mine Free World conference which happens every five years and is the biggest of its kind, with the highest level politicians, diplomats and operators in mine action attending. The film was also selected by the London International Documentary Festival, billed as one of the most important festivals in the world. In addition the film was used on national news broadcasts to report on the success.
The documentary shows how landmines have affected the country and how its economy, which is based on agriculture, can now start to grow again because the land is safe to farm.
We were supported in producing the documentary by UK Aid, the department for international development.
Spike Productions have worked with the Mines Awareness Trust before – Warren Mauger, Managing Director of Spike Productions, was delighted to be involved in this project as it is one of the main reasons Spike was set up, to make films that make a difference:
“Films like this make everyone at Spike very proud, we have had a great opportunity to work with an organisation we have huge respect for, making a difference to people’s lives around the world. Their job is to make the land safe for people to rebuild their lives, our job is to document this and tell as many people as possible, especially those involved in landmine action”