Félicité’ Niyitegeka
Now, more than ever, the world needs heroes. We need examples of brave individuals who are willing to live and even die for the cause of peace.
FÉLICITÉ NIYITEGEKA was a Catholic consecrated virgin and social worker during the Rwandan genocide of 1994. Rather than identifying people by the class or tribe they were born into, Félicité saw everyone as a child of God. She took care of children and refugees at the Centre Saint Pierre and helped numerous people, whose lives were endangered, escape to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. When word spread of her activities, she was given a warning and a chance to escape danger herself. Rather than escaping, she chose to share the same fate as the innocent people she served. She spent the last moments of her life before a mass grave, in front of a firing squad and praying for her captors. She led her friends in the Rosary and reminded them not to lose faith because they were about to meet Jesus and Mary.
Today, Félicité’s story continues to inspire hope throughout the now-peaceful Rwanda, where she is considered a national hero. Many who have heard her story, including the very man who killed her, have been led to repentance and conversion. Dozens of individuals who were personally saved by Félicité wish to share their first-hand accounts on camera before it is too late. These accounts, along with Félicité’s recently-discovered spiritual journal, will serve to shape this inspiring new documentary film. You can learn more about Félicité here.
STELLA MARIS FILMS is collecting donations to turn this inspiring story into a documentary feature film.
SUPPORT THIS PROJECT WITH A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFT
FUNDRAISING GOAL $135,000
Projected Filmmaking Costs
Includes expenses for a crew of filmmakers to travel to Rwanda, France, and Belgium to interview genocide survivors who knew Félicité.
Includes time for filmmakers to engage in research and planning before the film shoot.
Includes funds to hire a musical composer to write and record an original score.
Includes funds to produce animated motion graphics for the film.
Includes post production time to edit and prepare the film for wide distribution.
HELP US REACH OUR GOAL
PROJECTED TIMELINE
APRIL 2024 - APRIL 2025 Fundraising Campaign
JUNE-AUGUST 2025 Pre-production
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2025 Film Production
NOVEMBER 2025 Post-production
MAY 2026 Film Release
CREATIVE TEAM
DAVID MICHAEL WARREN
DAVID MICHAEL WARREN (PRODUCER, DIRECTOR) graduated with honors from SCAD, earning a degree in Film and Television. His directorial credits include Hand of the Master: The Art and Life of Dom Gregory De Wit, which aired on PBS stations, and A Place at the Table: African-Americans on the Path to Sainthood, which was broadcast globally by EWTN. His film Tolton Speaks: The Life and Letters of Fr. Augustus Tolton will release in June of 2024. He is the author of Brilliant! 25 Catholic Scientists, Mathematicians, and Supersmart People, which won the Excellence in Publishing Award from the Catholic Publishing Association in 2021.
NATHAN WILLIS
NATHAN WILLIS (DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY) is an Emmy award-winning filmmaker based in the American South. He has directed and produced documentaries that have appeared on Vice, NBC News, and PBS. His feature-length documentary, Rap Squad, won a Mid America Emmy award and aired on PBS stations across the U.S. as part of PBS’s Reel South. His cinematic approach focuses on intimate character driven stories.
FR. JEAN D’AMOUR DUSENGUMUREMYI
FR. JEAN D’AMOUR DUSENGUMUREMYI (HISTORIAN, RESEARCHER) was ordained to the priesthood in 2013 for the Diocese of Byumba in Rwanda. He researches Rwandan martyrs from all the corners of the country. He is the leading expert on the life of Félicité and initiated The Félicité Niyitegeka Foundation in Rwanda. Fr. Jean personally found Félicité’s spiritual journal while investigating her life. He was instrumental in the preservation of the Center Saint Pierre, the very building where Félicité hid and cared for refugees, as a historical site in Rwanda. Fr. Jean is dedicated to offering new ways of reflecting on the church’s witness to the flourishing of human life, both in Rwanda and the world at large.
FINANCIAL PARTNERS
Stella Maris Productions, LLC is pleased to partner with the St. Louis IX Art Society and the Catholic Community Foundation of the Archdiocese of New Orleans in efforts to raise funds for this project. Thanks to this arrangement, financial contributors will be offered tax-deductions for bringing this project to life.
SUPPORTER REWARDS
Bring this story to life. Give today. Get a tax-write off when we process donations. Enjoy these perks.
GIVE $150- Advance Copy of the Film
An Advance Digital Copy of the A LIGHT IN RWANDA: THE STORY OF FÉLICITÉ NIYITEGEKA before it is released to the PUBLIC
GIVE $275- Three Digital Films
An Advance Digital Copy of the A LIGHT IN RWANDA: THE STORY OF FÉLICITÉ NIYITEGEKA before it is released to the public
A Digital Copy of A PLACE AT THE TABLE: AFRICAN-AMERICANS ON THE PATH TO SAINTHOOD
A Digital Copy of HAND OF THE MASTER: THE ART AND LIFE OF DOM GREGORY DE WIT
GIVE $500- Special Thanks in Credits
An Advance Digital Copy of the A LIGHT IN RWANDA: THE STORY OF FÉLICITÉ NIYITEGEKA before it is released to the public
A Digital Copy of A PLACE AT THE TABLE: AFRICAN-AMERICANS ON THE PATH TO SAINTHOOD
A Digital Copy of HAND OF THE MASTER: THE ART AND LIFE OF DOM GREGORY DE WIT
“Special Thanks” Credit in the Film to you or your organization
GIVE $1000- Signed Poster
An Advance Digital Copy of the A LIGHT IN RWANDA: THE STORY OF FÉLICITÉ NIYITEGEKA before it is released to the public
A Digital Copy of A PLACE AT THE TABLE: AFRICAN-AMERICANS ON THE PATH TO SAINTHOOD
A Digital Copy of HAND OF THE MASTER: THE ART AND LIFE OF DOM GREGORY DE WIT
“Special Thanks” Credit in the Film to you or your organization
A Poster for the film signed by the filmmakers
GIVE $2500- Invitation to the Film Premiere
An Advance Digital Copy of the A LIGHT IN RWANDA: THE STORY OF FÉLICITÉ NIYITEGEKA before it is released to the public
A Digital Copy of A PLACE AT THE TABLE: AFRICAN-AMERICANS ON THE PATH TO SAINTHOOD
A Digital Copy of HAND OF THE MASTER: THE ART AND LIFE OF DOM GREGORY DE WIT
“Special Thanks” Credit in the Film to you or your organization
A Poster for the film signed by the filmmakers
Invitation to the Film Premiere
GIVE $5000- Associate Producer Credit
An Advance Digital Copy of the A LIGHT IN RWANDA: THE STORY OF FÉLICITÉ NIYITEGEKA before it is released to the public
A Digital Copy of A PLACE AT THE TABLE: AFRICAN-AMERICANS ON THE PATH TO SAINTHOOD
A Digital Copy of HAND OF THE MASTER: THE ART AND LIFE OF DOM GREGORY DE WIT
A Poster for the film signed by the filmmakers
Invitation to the Film Premiere
“Associate Producer” Credit in the Film
GIVE $12,000- Producer Credit
An Advance Digital Copy of the A LIGHT IN RWANDA: THE STORY OF FÉLICITÉ NIYITEGEKA before it is released to the public
A Digital Copy of A PLACE AT THE TABLE: AFRICAN-AMERICANS ON THE PATH TO SAINTHOOD
A Digital Copy of HAND OF THE MASTER: THE ART AND LIFE OF DOM GREGORY DE WIT
A Poster for the film signed by the filmmakers
Invitation to the Film Premiere
“Producer” Credit in the Film
GIVE $25,000- Executive Producer Credit (only 3 available)
An Advance Digital Copy of the A LIGHT IN RWANDA: THE STORY OF FÉLICITÉ NIYITEGEKA before it is released to the public
A Digital Copy of A PLACE AT THE TABLE: AFRICAN-AMERICANS ON THE PATH TO SAINTHOOD
A Digital Copy of HAND OF THE MASTER: THE ART AND LIFE OF DOM GREGORY DE WIT
A Poster for the film signed by the filmmakers
Invitation to the Film Premiere
“ Executive Producer” Credit in the Film
GREAT QUESTIONS
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Once you donate, you will be entitled to a written acknowledgement of your contribution. Since you are giving to a 501C3 organization, your donation may be counted as a tax-deduction on your federal income tax. In addition to your tax write-off letter, we’ll also send you any rewards that your donation qualifies for once the fundraising is complete.
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Yes. If you donate money to make this film, you are entitled to request a refund for any reason during the fundraising period. The fundraising period begins April 2024 and lasts until enough money to make the film (a minimum of $40,000) has been raised. During this fundraising period, refunds may be requested for any reason, and will be issued in full, minus processing fees. Once enough money to produce the film has been donated, refunds will no longer be possible.
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In the event that a minimum amount of $40,000 (for a scaled-down production of the film) is not raised, the film will not move forward. In this case, the funds will be reallocated at the discretion of the St. Louis IX Art Society.
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When donations are processed, your money is placed into a secure custodial account held by the Catholic Community Foundation of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. This account is managed by The St. Louis IX Art Society. When enough funds are collected to produce the film, 94% of the monies will be distributed to Stella Maris Productions, LCC to manage the production. 6% of the total funds raised will remain with The St. Louis IX Art Society to promote the film and other art initiatives in South Louisiana.
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Tax-deduction letters will be sent from the Catholic Community Foundation of the Archdiocese of New Orleans once your donation is processed.
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Stella Maris Productions, LLC will work with The Saint Louis IX Art Society to organize a film premiere event in South Louisiana. Stella Maris Productions, LLC will retain the distribution rights and work towards sharing the film with an international audience. The film will likely air on television stations and be available for viewing on Video On Demand and streaming platforms. Other films produced by Stella Maris Productions, LLC have shown in Catholic Churches across the country and been broadcast in various markets.
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Rewards will only be given out when the film has been completed. The timing is uncertain, because it is dependent on the completion of the fundraising period and the completion of the film. Assuming all fundraisng goals are met, it would be realistic for supporters to get their rewards before the projected release date of the film in April 2026.
A mural at the Kilgali Genocide Museum, which is located at the site of a mass grave.