Lionelle Nsarhaza

What were you doing before the first lockdown?
I was training at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Since March, our training has been profoundly affected and, of course, it’s been frustrating and isolating, but it’s given everyone time to re-evaluate what is important and how things need to change. We need to allow more voices to be heard and I want one of those voices to be mine.

Can you tell me about your film I Can’t Breathe?
I was motivated to write and produce the project as a visceral response to the death of George Floyd. It was a very emotional time and, as an emerging artist, I wanted to articulate those emotions. I’m fortunate to have my art as an outlet.

What was your process for creating the short film?
This project has forced me to be bold, stand up and develop as an autonomous artist.

We have dedicated hours to the creation of this project. Reaching out to actors in the industry and not knowing how it would be received was scary, but the response has been astonishing. Knowing that well-established actors, politicians and creatives are so enthusiastic about not only sharing such an important message on their platforms but also doing something about it gives me so much hope.

Directing this on a virtual platform was difficult, especially because the message itself is very raw, but I was blessed to find talented people who were passionate about the message and getting it out there as soon as possible. Then it just became a matter of getting it done to the highest quality possible, regardless of the limited resources we had.

How would you like to see the industry change?
I hope to create work for projects that empower and speak for the minorities and underdogs of the world. I want to tell raw stories that hold up a magnifying glass to the ordinary and find beauty. Through humour and tragedy, I aim to use my voice to better the world that we live in, because I don’t just speak for myself but for my little brother and sister
and those whose voices are easily ignored and lost if we allow them to be.

It’s time to normalise and amplify all voices. Real and accurate representation is important in all mediums. I think most of the world has now put Black Lives Matter to bed because it is no longer trending. However, the issues are still
very real.

It’s Black History Month [in the US] and I can’t think of a better opportunity to say this: please take a minute to educate yourself about someone else’s experience and let’s all make this planet a better place than we found it for those who come after us. Let’s not wait until the next George Floyd to correct what should have been corrected long ago.

What message do you have for other creatives?
Find those people who will believe in you and the message you want to put out there and then take the leap. Believe in yourself – the rest will work itself out. The world needs your authentic voice.

CV Lionelle Nsarhaza

Training: Professional Acting BA at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (2018-21)
First professional role: Rioter and shop assistant in The Queen Is Dead, Footlights Theatre Company (2014)

I Can’t Breathe can be viewed here: