Here is a fresh wallpaper for you. This was taken on approach to KGL (Kigali International Airport) while filming aerials for Rwanda: Hope Rises in 2008. Click on the photo to download a full-size JPEG.
Wallpaper – Kigali Airport

Here is a fresh wallpaper for you. This was taken on approach to KGL (Kigali International Airport) while filming aerials for Rwanda: Hope Rises in 2008. Click on the photo to download a full-size JPEG.
The documentary I directed & produced, Rwanda: Hope Rises was the recipient this past week of the Best Foreign Documentary award at the International Family Film Festival in Los Angeles. Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible!
In 2008, Lyn & Jesse Rosten and I headed to Rwanda to do the last round of filming for Rwanda: Hope Rises. Our hosts were our friends at the Wellspring Foundation for Education, a non-profit working in Rwanda toward quality education. They do the hard, everyday work of training teachers, educating kids and working with headmasters & the ministry of education to deliver the best possible education to Rwandan kids.
My friend and fellow creative Craig Harris just completed editing footage from that trip into a promotional film for Wellspring. The piece is a great example of collaboration at its best. A hard-working non-profit receives the combined efforts of several creative people, melded into a cohesive finished product. Have a look and let me know what you think in the comments!
Trailer for the documentary Rwanda: Hope Rises. More info and DVDs for sale here.
It’s hard to believe that almost five years ago, five friends started planning for a trip to Rwanda. Our plan was to shoot a documentary in two weeks, spend a month in hard-core editing, and have it ready to watch by the summer of 2005.
I was so naive, in so many ways. I had shot several documentaries by this point, but nothing on this scale. The process has been intense, difficult, and there was more than once that the whole thing almost didn’t happen. But here we are… the film is ready for the world to see on DVD.
You can get your copy here: Hope Rises Store. There is more info and trailers on the website as well as a Facebook fan page.
Thanks for all of your support over the years to get this thing made.
A friend in Rwanda is looking for investors in a social-interest company. He’s a solid guy (the main character in my Rwanda film). They grow geranium and sell the oils on the international market. The project is run by widows & orphans in the area, who receive the profits.
He’s looking for investors in the company. Investments will have an immediate, on the ground effect towards a self-sustaining business in the developing world. If you, or anyone you know, is interested in investing in a company like this, drop me a line.
Rwanda: Hope Rises is screening in Toronto at the Bloor Cinema, 7pm Tuesday May 12th. Samputu, who’s music is featured in the film, will be playing before the screening. Come & bring your friends :)
The Edinburgh Evening News reports on a recent screening of Rwanda: Hope Rises.
Although they were happy, Nicholas said his experiences in Edinburgh made him more determined to help other Rwandans rebuild their lives. Elsie was reluctant at first, but eventually agreed.
If you’re out near London, Ontario, head on over to the Wolf Perfomance Hall tonight (Tuesday March 3rd) at 7pm for a screening of Rwanda: Hope Rises. Tickets are $5 at the door.
If you’re in the area and not able to make it, never fear… we’re arranging more screenings to happen soon in Toronto, Ottawa and a few nearby cities.
Rwanda: Hope Rises is on tour, starting with the West Coast. We have dates in Portland, Redding and Langley. We are booking now for dates on our Cross-Canada tour. Check out hoperisesfilm.com for more info, and get in touch if you’re interested in hosting or helping with a screening.
Update: the RSS feed for the news page on hoperisesfilm.com is now working. Subscribe for updates on screenings etc. While you’re at it, you can subscribe to the trevormeier.com RSS feed too! (There are many goodies on the feed that regular site viewers don’t get to see…)