Rwandan actor and filmmaker Louis Udahemuka is preparing to release a new film titled Olivia, which tells the story of a young woman betrayed by members of her own family who seek to take control of the property she inherited from her parents.
The 90-minute film was produced by Udahemuka through his company, Cine 24, in partnership with Zacu Entertainment. It is scheduled for release in 2027 and will be broadcast on Zacu TV.
The story centres on Olivia, a young woman who inherits her family’s property but becomes the target of disputes among relatives, some of whom eventually plot to kill her so they can take over her inheritance.
As part of their plan, the conspirators hire someone to murder Olivia. However, events take an unexpected turn when the hired killer falls in love with her and decides to uncover the identities of those behind the plot against her life.
Speaking to Umunota, Udahemuka said that although betrayal and family disputes over property form the central storyline, the film also explores several other themes drawn from everyday life.
“Family problems feature in the film, but they are not the only issues it addresses. The characters each have different messages to convey through the situations they experience. There is love, betrayal driven by the desire to steal someone else’s property, and a character who struggles to make firm decisions, saying no today and yes tomorrow. There is also someone who believes that having money means they can have everything,” he said.
He added that each character has a distinct personality and role, allowing viewers to draw different lessons about behaviour, love, inequality and the decisions people make in life.
Olivia is Udahemuka’s first independent film project as a director. He is already known in Rwanda’s film industry for his work in directing and producing visual content.
He said the film is still in post-production, with the work expected to be completed by the end of 2026 before its release the following year. Plans are also underway to organise a special screening for Rwandan audiences ahead of its broadcast on Zacu TV.
The film features several familiar faces in Rwanda’s film industry, including Sandra Ishimwe, popularly known as Nadia in City Maid, as well as Mama Nicky; Mukasekuru Hadija, known for her role as Fabiola in Amarira y’Urukundo; Ganza Prince, who has appeared in films including Incubation; and Umuhoza Sandrine, popularly known as Sasa in Papa Sava.
The cast also includes Habiyakare Muniru, known for his role in the film Rugamba.
