People of the Delta (2016)

In Ethiopia's Lower Omo Valley, a young man comes of age in a harsh time. (IMDB)

Director: Joseph Lawrence

Khat: A Cultural Addiction (2014)

It's a billion-dollar industry that no one's heard of. Khat, know to some as a green paradise, is a green leafy shrub that is growing Ethiopia's economy. But that's not the only thing khat is cultivating. The hallucinogenic and stimulants have also triggered a mass addiction among chronic chewers around the world, costing several people their families, their health, and their livelihood. In hopes of highlighting the highs and lows of an industry that is spreading faster and faster every day, Khat: A Cultural Addiction explores the physical, financial and social effects this drug has had on those living in the Horn of Africa through the story of a man named Agengehut, who at just 27 years old lost everything the day he became a slave to the leaf. (IMDB)

Writer & Director: Sarah Springer

I've Seen So Much (2017)

Sintayehu Tesale is an Ethiopian carpenter. But not only. He is an inspiring person; one of those who leave a mark on you when you meet him. He is persevering, he is positive, he boosts your strength, he encourages you to stand up. He is, in summary, a motivational person. Maybe, part of this strength comes from his own struggles, from his own experience, from the fact that he is one of the few carpenters in the world who does not use his hands, but his feet, due to an undiagnosed disability. This is the story of Sintayehu, the story of his life. (IMDB)

Writer & Director: Gonzalo Guajardo
Stars:Ashenafi Habte, Sintayehu Tesale

Misionero (2014)

Based on the interview made to Fr. Juan González Núñez and on his own writings, this film revises the history of the Comboni missionaries in the Gumuz region of Ethiopia, navigating through their 3 pillars: education, health, and mission, and questioning the role that missionaries played in Africa. (IMDB)

Director: Gonzalo Guajardo
Star: Juan González Nuñez

Two Zions: The Living Legacy of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon (2016)

'Two Zions' focuses on the Zions of Jerusalem, Israel, and Axum, Ethiopia. It describes the relationship between King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba that has connected two peoples and cultures through their religious observances from approximately 950 BC till today. (IMDB)

Director: Cheryl Halpern
Writers: Alex Dolginko, Cheryl Halpern, Tsion Kiros

Roaring Abyss (2015)

A sound journey across the mountains, deserts, and forests of Ethiopia and its cultural universe. Roaring Abyss will take you through an inedit collection of music recordings of invaluable importance for the transmission and preservation of the African heritage. (IMDB)

Director: Quino Piñero

Ferenj: A Graphic Memoir in Virtual Reality (2020)

This experimental graphic memoir is set in an afrosurrealist VR dreamscape that explores the meaning of "home" and reclaims Ainslee's Ethiopian-American mixed-race identity. Ferenj redefines the boundaries between fragmented memories and the digital imaginary. (IMDB)

Writer & Director: Ainslee Alem Robson

Alganesh (2018)

'I didn't believe it until I saw it. A sign on a wall says this, as a hundred Eritrean refugees arrive in the Endabaguna collection centre in the Tigray region in Ethiopia, after traveling in an airless truck for four days. Why do people run away? What happens before the infamous images we are shown in the West of refugees crossing the sea? An intense journey through four refugee camps for Eritreans in Ethiopia, amongst unaccompanied children, persecuted Kunamas, people who have been there for as long as 17 years. This journey will follow Dr. Alganesh Fessah's work and her commitment to securing refugee's rights and liberating kidnapped and tortured prisoners in the Sinai desert. Three protagonists: refugees; Ethiopia, a welcoming land; and Alganesh who, among despair, will tell us her hopes on the horizon. (IMDB)

Directors: Lia Beltrami, Marianna Beltrami

New Voices in an Old Flower (2017)

"It was an era, it was the start of a new vision," says Amha Eshete, the first Ethiopian music producer back in the Golden Age, the days of Swingin' Addis. The album releases that have crossed Ethiopian borders are mainly recordings from the '50s to the '80s, however, the contemporary music scene from Addis remains, bar a few exceptions, unknown to the rest of the world. Is Addis still swinging as it used to? Music in Addis is present in actions and sounds spread out on differentiated spaces, it is an expression of the everyday urban life and its processes of transformation and adaptation in the city. New Voices In An Old Flower explores this vitality of music looking at the plurality of the city and its people. Drifting in unplanned tours through the urban landscape of contemporary Addis Ababa, this film is shaped by encounters, dialogues and collaborations with musicians and other inhabitants of the city. (Quino Piñero & Plácido Muñoz - IMDB)

Director: Quino Piñero

Ewir Amora Kelabi (2016)

Based on a true story of Zekarias Tibebu Mesfin. Major Tibebu Mesfin has two children including myself. He was working for the Dergue Regine in Ethiopia. During the time he was working, there was a big ideological struggle and disagreement among his higher leaderships and administrations. Due to unforeseen situations, my father disappeared and his whereabouts were unknown. As a result of his disappearance, his higher officials went after my mother and put her in jail. They torched her to confess. the hardship she was facing, my mother decided to get out to Dire Dawa. She escaped from Dire Dawa and went to Gonder to live with my father's relatives. As I grew older, my ambition to help my mother grew deeper. I left Gonder and went to Addis Ababa looking for work. I started working as a barber, and I was just about ready to help my mother. However, my mother was sick; and her older brother had to come from Sudan to take her to Tigray for better treatment. My mother died and l left with no options, my last resort was migration with the help of my uncle. I planned a long trip to Israel. I started my journey from Metema traveled through Sudan; then to Egypt. During my journey, I had faced many problems in the Sinai Desert and Egyptian prisons for two years. I tried everything to survive. during my stay in the Egyptian prison, I tried to get an opportunity to immigrate to Canada. I managed to overcome all the problems I faced and traveled to Canada to start my new life. (IMDB)

Director: Sewmehon Yismaw
Writer: Zekarias Mesfin (Story)
Star: Zekarias Mesfin

Migration of Beauty (2009)

After watching the Ethiopian government massacre 193 people as the result of a national election that went bad, Ethiopians in the U.S. react by using their U.S. citizenship to impose foreign aid restrictions against their native country. Migration of Beauty shows how citizenship in the U.S. can lead to political empowerment when immigrants engage the political system in their host country. It further makes the case for human rights and democracy in Africa. (IMDB)

Director: Chris Flaherty
Writer: Chris Flaherty

Man Up and Go (2014)

When Roger went to Ethiopia to get his adopted daughter, she was 6 months old, but only 7 pounds, dying. Roger asked himself, Is there a way out of this? He called his dad and heard words that rocked his core: Roger, man up! If she dies, at least she will die in the arms of a father. Roger had to inspire men to be better husbands and fathers, so he launched the Man Up movement. With 28 other men, they traveled to the depths of Africa to love big on orphans and the least of these. In the end, the men discover their lives were impacted the most. They travel home but will they be the same? (IMDB)

Directors: Randy Bacon, Shannon Bacon
Genres: Documentary, Adventure, Drama, Family

Mud Road (2019)

In southern Ethiopia, an ambulance driver has to bring a young lady to the hospital for delivery. It's a long journey along a road full of mud. (IMDB)

Director: Francesco de Giorgi
Star: Taddesse Leto

Adamt (2013)

A young Ethiopian composer and drummer struggle with a traumatic experience from his childhood when a deaf spirit appears in his life and inspires him to channel his memories in a new direction. (IMDB)

Director: Zelalem Woldemariam
Writer: Zelalem Woldemariam
Stars: Sayat Demissie, Mulugeta Geresu

Genre: Drama

Ballad of the Spirits (2016)

"Ballad of the Spirits tells a story of a man who is resistant to change. As a grander picture, It's a quiet love letter to a city, whose culture and identity are being degraded with every passing minute. As a personal one, it's about a change in the dynamic of love and relationships and how that whole overall theme goes hand in hand with the city. Its also about existentialism, history, and architecture." (IMDB)

Director: Beza Hailu Lemma
Writers: Teka Haile, Beza Hailu Lemma (Story)
Stars: Redeat Abate, Kirubel Atnafu

Genres: Drama, History, Romance

The Second Best

95 years old athlete Wami Biratu runs his last marathon in Addis Ababa, while evoking the legendary Olympic champion Abebe Bikila, his best friend and rival. (IMDB)

Director: Miguel Llansó
Writer: Miguel Llansó
Star: Wami Biratu

Genre: Sport

Here Come the Problems [Chigger Ale] (2013)

films

One night, a strange clone of Hitler comes to Fendika - a grassroots tavern in Addis Ababa... (IMDB)

Directors: Fanta Ananas, Miguel Llansó, Israel Seoane
Writer: Fanta Ananas
Star: Daniel Tadesse

Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi

AWARDS
1- Regensburg Short Film Week 2014
Best International Short Film: Fanta Ananas (Nominee)
2- Milan Film Festival 2013
Special Mention Best Short Film: Fanta Ananas (Winner)
3- Hamburg International Short Film Festival 2014
Jury Award (NoBudget): Fanta Ananas, Miguel Llansó, Israel Seoane (Nominee)

Hairat (2017)

For over 35 years Yussuf Mume Saleh journeys at night to the outskirts of the walled city of Harar to bond with his beloved hyenas. (IMDB)

Director: Jessica Beshir
Writer: Elias Shagiz Adonay Tesfaye (poem by)
Stars: Yussuf Mume Saleh, Elias Shagiz Adonay Tesfaye

Awards
Sundance Film Festival 2017
Short Film Grand Jury Prize - Jessica Beshir (Nominee)

Where Is My Dog? (2010)

One day, Tokola's dog Leman disappeared. Tokola is a close friend of Yohannes Feleke and Miguel Llanso, so that's why the filmmakers reflected on the value of a dog and the great number of street dogs in Addis Ababa, trying to survive among the people. How are these dogs related to the inhabitants of the city? Do people love or hate them? Could be established a parallelism between the life of the dogs and the life of the people? Finally, this reflection would consider the general perception of Ethiopia from the West and would play experimentally with the western prejudices to display an ironic film with certain doses of black humor. Thus Yohannes Feleke and Miguel Llanso went to the streets of Addis Ababa. (IMDB)

Directors: Yohannes Feleke, Miguel Llansó
Writers: Yohannes Feleke, Miguel Llansó
Star: Tekola Tekle Ab

Genres: Comedy

Abeba

A little baby girl is left by her parents in a parking lot in Addis Abeba and we don't know why. The young girl grows up with the dream of reuniting with her parents who left her because they couldn't support her. (IMDB)

Director: Zelalem Woldemariam
Writer: Jean-Paul Wall
Genres: Mystery

Awards
IndieFEST Film Awards 2021
Award of Merit - Short Film (Winner)
Zelalem Woldemariam (Directed By)
Pedro Marques (Original Score)
Ana Almeida (Editing)
Jean-Paul Wall (Produced by)
Zeleman Production (Production Company)
Moodswing (Production Company)

How Was My Day? (2016)

A short film that profoundly depicts the pressing issue of gender discrimination in Ethiopia and other parts of the world. (IMDB)

Directors: Gonzalo Guajardo, Hana Haile, Samson Tegegn
Writer: Hanna Haile
Main character: Christine Yohannes

Official Page: How Was My Day?

I Won't Bear No More (2016)

"Yenegen Alewldem" (I will not bear tomorrow) causes a stir for depicting - through football - what may be Ethiopia's most bloody period in history."

"Ye Negen Alewdlem" - nearly two hours long - is based on a book written by veteran sports journalist Genene Mekuria about youths who used football as a distraction from the claustrophobic fear of the Red Terror.
Local government cadres created much of that fear by their all-embracing surveillance of the population and the power of life and death or freedom and imprisonment they were given through the authority to denounce 'anti-revolutionaries'.
The main character is a football coach played by Berhanu Degafe, a veteran entertainment journalist and personality. The coach uses his job as an escape from the danger of forcible recruitment into a local government-approved security force. He trains his players on roads littered with dumped bodies of 'anti-revolutionaries' and anti-government leaflets as he tries to juggle family disapproval with his desire to build a great football team at a dangerous time." (IMDB)

Writer & Director: Abraham Gezahagne Assefa
Genres: Drama, History, Sport

Rebuni (2015)

"A wealthy businessman tries to buy land for a new factory but develops a complicated relationship with the young woman who owns the land." (IMDB)

Director: Kidist Yilma
Writer: Kidist Yilma
Star: Ruta Mengisteab
Genre: Drama

Min Alesh? (2019)

"The story is set in Merkato, a sprawling market in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, considered to be Africa's largest open-air market, narrating the story of a girl, Selam, whose kindness and perseverance transform her life for the better.
Selam confronts the hardship life of her village but is determined to change the circumstances she and her family face, through athletics.
The film depicts the young girl as a symbol and an inspiration for women and girls and that they, too, can be destined for greatness." (IMDB)

Director: Amleset Muchie
Stars: Alebachew Mekonnen, Amleset Muchie, Dirbwork Seyifu
Genre: Drama

Taza (2017)

"In 1990 G.C, Selam, a young beautiful, and intelligent woman who was abroad to study In Cuba comes back to her motherland and lives in the same house a caring older couple that rented her a single room that was their own duty soldier son's, Abraham's prior bedroom.
Selam is unhappy and doesn't feel like she is back in the motherland as her field of study isn't relevant back home; in which she drinks every night to forget her sadness.
On a random day, Abraham calls his parents to tell them that he is coming back home after a long time. The news shocks his parents as they have to tell Selam to leave her home (Abraham's bedroom) when she least expects it.
Yet, Selam convinces Abraham's mother to give her a week until she finds a place to stay. The socially isolated solder, Abraham (who was on probation at the time) gets very upset with Selam as she comes home drunk every night. yet, eventually, the two falls in love with each other which makes Selam feels like she is really back home in her motherland." (IMDB)

Director: Kidest Yilma
Star: Yafet Henock

Genres: Drama, Romance

Two Worlds: Blood Bound (2019)

"When Phil discovers that he wasn't an Orphan at adoption, he risks everything - including his life, to uncover the tortuous corruption between his developing birth-country and the Western World." (IMDB)

Director: Gebrehiwot Cherkos
Writer: Petros Dejene
Stars: Dawit Abate, Abebe Alemu, Alemayehu Belayneh

Genre: Action

The Seed (2010)

"Fikir, a ten-year-old street urchin, wakes up one morning after dreaming of an angel and finds an orange outside of his makeshift dwelling. After a bully steals his shoeshine rig, he is consoled by some other homeless youths and joins them in selling tissues. He interacts with an angel who shows him his true nature and becomes the prophet of the Golden Age. He reaches out to other young parents who are conceiving children who are destined to be prophets, sages, and leaders. Among the conceiving parents are a prostitute who doesn't know the father of her child, a couple from different social classes who elope, a model who must choose between her career and motherhood, and a social worker who works with HIV-positive orphans who conceives with a taxi-van conductor and poet who wants to free the lions at the zoo." (IMDB)

Director: Joshua Bee Alafia
Stars: Melaku Barbisa, Wassyehun Belay, Kistet Bogale
Genre: Fantasy

Sewenetwa (2019)

This is a story of young female Ethiopians who fled to Arab Worlds to work as a maid and struggle to stay safe, a heartwarming and sad story. (IMDB)

Director: Sewmehon Yismaw

Running Against the Wind (2019)

"Running Against the Wind is a 2019 Ethiopian drama film directed by Jan Philipp Weyl. It was selected as the Ethiopian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated."

Running Against the Wind

Blood Is Not Fresh Water (1997)

A personal and political history of Ethiopia's Rastafarians covers the years 1930 to 1976. (IMDB)

Initial release: 1997

Director: Theo Eshetu
Producer: Eve Silvester
Editor: Walter Fasano

Bereka (2019)

A family history archive as told by matriarch Azalu Mekonnen and her granddaughter Samira Hooks. Shot on Super 8 film in Los Angeles and Gondar, Ethiopia, it captures the Ethiopian coffee ceremony and explores migration, memory, and rebirth.

Documentary ‧ 7 mins

Grandma Knows Best? (2014)

Short documentary - A look at the connection between two grandmothers. (IMDB)

Director & Writer: Tamara Mariam Dawit (as Tamara Dawit)

Finding Sally (2020)

A personal investigation into the mysterious life of the director's Aunt Sally, an Ethiopian aristocrat-turned-communist-rebel who disappeared after the revolution that leads to the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie. (IMDB)

Director & Writer: Tamara Mariam Dawit (as Tamara Dawit)

Harvest: 3,000 Years

In this meditative film, the everyday lives of poor Ethiopian peasants are shown using documentary as well as storytelling techniques, and the drama arises out of the timeless but still contemporary issues of their lives.

Director: Haile Gerima
Writer: Haile Gerima
Stars: Kasu Asfaw, Gebru Kasa, Worke Kasa

Lambadina

Lambadina is a 2015 Ethiopian drama film focusing on a journey of a little boy whose story starts in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and ends in Los Angeles, CA.
It has been produced and directed by Messay Getahun.
It was screened at the 2016 edition of the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, California. The film received the Audience Award for Narrative Feature, as well as, Special Jury Recognition-Director for First Feature Narrative. The film also won the award for Best Film by an African Living Abroad at the 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards.

Black Gold

Black Gold is a 2006 documentary film that follows the efforts of an Ethiopian coffee-union manager as he travels the world to obtain a better price for his workers' coffee beans. The film was directed and produced by Marc James Francis and Nick Francis from Speakit Films and co-produced by Christopher Hird. It premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. (IMDB)

British Independent Film Awards 2007

British Independent Film Award Best Achievement in Production (Winner)

Best British Documentary (Nominee)

Douglas Hickox Award Marc J. Francis & Nick Francis (Nominee)

International Documentary Association 2006

Pare Lorentz Award Marc J. Francis, Nick Francis & Speakit Films (Nominee)

San Francisco Black Film Festival 2006

Festival Prize Contemporary Issues Marc J. Francis, Nick Francis & Speakit Films (Winner)

Sundance Film Festival 2006

Grand Jury Prize World Cinema - Documentary Marc J. Francis & Nick Francis (Nominee)

Imperfect Journey (1994)

The documentary IMPERFECT JOURNEY introduces the people Gerima and Polish journalist Ryszard Kapuscinski encounter as they survey the country. Their emerging narrative voices are Ethiopia's collective conscience. Many of the stories are harrowing but always thought-provoking: mothers whose sons have been murdered by the junta; hooded men who tell of the continuing oppression even of the current regime. Successive governments have always massacred students and officials of prior administrations. A professor points out that the university in Addis Ababa has always been portrayed as a hotbed of opposition by each regime: a communist breeding ground in Haile Selassie's political scheme; reactionaries in the junta's; ethnic chauvinists for the present administration - which claims to embrace national unity. (Africa-Archive)

Writer & Director:  Haile Gerima

Adwa

This film captures the independence and determination of the Ethiopian people. In response to the "Scramble for Africa," or carving up of the African continent by European colonizers following the infamous Berlin Conference of 1880, Ethiopians from all provinces and ethnic groups unified to defend their homeland from an Italian takeover. No one expected the Ethiopian army to successfully fight the well-trained and armed Italian army. (IMDB)

Initial release: 1999

Director: Haile Gerima

Running time: 1h 36m

Genre: Documentary

Ashes and Embers

An embittered veteran of the Vietnam War attempts to come to terms with his past and his current place as a black man in America.

Initial release: November 17, 1982 (USA)

Director: Haile Gerima

Running time: 2h 0m

Screenplay: Haile Gerima

Producer: Haile Gerima

Starring: John Anderson, Norman Blalock, Evelyn A. Blackwell 

Bush Mama

Bush Mama is the story of Dorothy and her husband T.C, a discharged Vietnam veteran.

Initial release: September 1979 (USA)

Director: Haile Gerima

Running time: 1h 37m

Screenplay: Haile Gerima

Music composed by: Onaje Kareem Kenyatta

Starring: Barbara O. Jones, Johnny Weathers, Cora Lee Day

Sankofa

A model (Oyafunmike Ogunlano) on a photo shoot in Ghana encounters an old mystic (Kofi Ghanaba) who transports her into the past, where she becomes a slave.

Initial release: May 28, 1993 (USA)

Director: Haile Gerima

Screenplay: Haile Gerima

Music composed by: David J. White

Starring: Mr. Lafayette, Joe, Lucy, Shango, Nathan, Noble Ali 

YETUT LIJ: A film by Haile Gerima

Join Haile Gerima, the award-winning filmmaker behind TEZA, SANKOFA & BUSH MAMA, on a new journey.

YETUT LIJ /የጡትልጅ/ is an Amharic phrase, that crudely translates to "Child of the Breast." It’s a term typically used to refer to any child taken in and raised by someone, other than their biological parent. The title imitates the harsh and complex realities that Haile Gerima wants to address in his new film.  

The story takes place in 1960’s Ethiopia, 20 years after the Italian occupation.

Aynalem, a 13-year-old peasant girl, gets adopted by a wealthy judge's family and taken away from her own, with the promise of an educated upbringing and a better life.

Contrary to this promise, she is instead forced to work as a domestic servant. Yet, despite the close watch and cruelty of her employers, she meets and falls in love with an ordinary police man, named Tilahun.Though, he manages to help her escape her circumstances, Tilahun finds Aynalem years later, in the clutches of another formidable captor.

Please support this film on Indiegogo 

Dukale's Dream

Dukale's Dream - a journey to the birthplace of coffee

Actor Hugh Jackman traveled to Ethiopia as an ambassador for World Vision Australia, one of the largest humanitarian aid organizations. While there, Hugh met a young coffee farmer named Dukale, working to lift his family out of poverty.

After spending time on Dukale's farm, Hugh realized that something as simple as a cup of coffee could have a profound impact on global poverty. Hugh was so inspired by what he learned from Dukale that he made—and kept—a promise that is revealed in this inspirational documentary.

Director Josh Victor Rothstein

Actors

Hugh Jackman

Deborra-Lee Furness

Dukale

Tim Costello

Jeffrey D. Sachs

Assefa Tofu

Adanesh

Tekele Mammo

Documentary: 1 hour 10 minutes

The World's first Ethiopian Sci-fi Flick

Miguel Llansó’s CRUMBS may just be the best Ethiopian postapocalyptic science-fiction movie ever made. True, it’s also the first and only of its kind in existence. But that just adds something.

Set at an unspecified point in the future, the film introduces us to its world long after Earth’s population has begun to “decrease, wane and languish like the dying flame of a candle that barely resists extinguishing itself.” This depopulation isn’t the same existential threat portrayed in Children of Men, in which all women suddenly became infertile a number of years earlier; it’s more a result of, and resignation to, the ways our worst qualities overwhelm our better nature. Countless movies feature supervillains who justify their apocalyptic schemes by claiming that they’re actually saving the planet, not destroying it; perhaps CRUMBS takes place decades or even centuries after one of them finally succeeded.

Read more: The World's First Ethiopian Sci-Fi Flick | Performance | OZY 

Crumbs - the world's first Ethiopian Sci-fi flick

Miguel Llansó’s CRUMBS may just be the best Ethiopian postapocalyptic science-fiction movie ever made.

True, it’s also the first and only of its kind in existence. But that just adds something.

Set at an unspecified point in the future, the film introduces us to its world long after Earth’s population has begun to “decrease, wane and languish like the dying flame of a candle that barely resists extinguishing itself.” This depopulation isn’t the same existential threat portrayed in Children of Men, in which all women suddenly became infertile a number of years earlier; it’s more a result of, and resignation to, the ways our worst qualities overwhelm our better nature. Countless movies feature supervillains who justify their apocalyptic schemes by claiming that they’re actually saving the planet, not destroying it; perhaps CRUMBS takes place decades or even centuries after one of them finally succeeded.

Read more: The World's First Ethiopian Sci-Fi Flick | Performance | OZY 

Lamb (2015) - an Ethiopian boy and his pet sheep

Lamb is a 2015 Ethiopian drama film directed by Yared Zeleke. 

When an Ethiopian boy moves in with distant relatives he takes his pet sheep with him but the upcoming holidays spell danger for his beloved friend.

It was screened in the Un Certain Regardsection at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. It was the first Ethiopian film to be included in the Official Selection.

Written by Yared Zeleke in collaboration with Géraldine Bajard.

Starring Rediat Amare, Kidist Siyum, Welela Assefa

Cinematography by Josée Deshaies

Edited by Véronique Bruque

Ethiopia. 2015. 94 min. Colour. Amharic with English subtitles.

Awards

London Film Festival 2015
Sutherland Award First Feature Competition (Nominee)
Yared Zeleke

Denver International Film Festival 2015
Special Jury Prize Krzysztof Kieslowski Award (Winner)
Yared Zeleke
Krzysztof Kieslowski Award Best Film (Nominee)
Yared Zeleke

Cannes Film Festival 2015
Golden Camera Yared Zeleke (Nominee)
Un Certain Regard Award Yared Zeleke

Black Reel Awards 2017
Black Reel Outstanding Foreign Language Film (Nominee)
Yared Zeleke
Ethiopia
Outstanding Emerging Filmmaker
Yared Zeleke
Outstanding First Screenplay
Yared Zeleke

Amiens International Film Festival 2012
Screenplay Creation Fonds Yared Zeleke (Winner)

Adelaide Film Festival 2015
International Feature Award Best Feature (Nominee)
Yared Zeleke

See reviews in

• BBC News "An Ethiopian film, Lamb, is causing a stir at Cannes"
• The Guardian "Sheer brilliance knits together first Ethiopian film at Cannes"
• The Hollywood Reporter "Ethiopian filmmaker Yared Zeleke's first feature looks at a little boy who loves cooking much more than plowing the land"
• Variety "Strong female characters and a sympathetic young protag distinguish Yared Zeleke’s debut feature"

ASNI

Asni Courage, Glamour & Passion in Ethiopia - a film about Asnaketch Worku ''Ethiopia's Edith Piaf'', an Ethiopian singer, actor and dancer. 

Rachael Samuel's documentary focuses on the life of the jazz diva, chronicling her rise to stardom and her legacy on the Ethiopian music scene.

Asnaketch was deemed very controversial in the  deeply conservative Ethiopia of the 1950s and 60s.

“When I was a 4-year old kid in Addis-Ababa listening to my father’s radio I heard a singer who mesmerized me. In an unknowing visceral response, Asnaketch Worku took root in my soul. Decades later it was an almost pre-destined privilege to direct a documentary on this extraordinary artist who is as much a cultural icon to Ethiopians as Billie Holiday is to Americans and Edith Piaf to the French. Asnaketch lived her life on the edge of her artistry, over the edge of her passions. But to separate Asnaketch from the social and political climate of conservative Ethiopia, particularly in 50’s and 60’s was impossible. Artists in that time were looked down upon, called derogatorily, “Azmari”, which the church deemed as, “…those not going to heaven.” So this doc is as much about my country, my music, my culture as it is about this original being, Asnaketch, who is a substantive part of the fabric of Ethiopia, past and present.” –Rachel Samuel, Director

Ethiopia. 2013. 80min. Colour. Amharic with English subtitles.

Review

TADIAS  "New Film by Rachel Samuel Profiles Legendary Musician Asnaketch Worku" 

Price of Love

A taxi driver gets caught up in the dark side of love, causing his taxi to be stolen. Stuck in a relationship with a prostitute, he must confront his past.

Starring Eskindir Tameru and Fereweni Gebregergs

Directed by Hermon Hailay

Written by Hermon Hailay & Max Conil

Produced by Max Conil  / HM Film Production

Year: 2015

Support "New Eyes" Kickstarter Campaign

"New Eyes" by talented director and writer Hiwot Admassu  is a short coming of age story about a thirteen-year-old girl who lives in rural Ethiopia. She battles with her sexuality that clashes with her conservative society. It's about self-discovery and accepting her womanhood.

"New Eyes" already has a European broadcaster attached, ZDF/ARTE. The project you help to create will be seen by millions.

Hiwot Admasu Getaneh, who learned the art of storytelling from her grandmother's traditional stories, often takes an experimental approach to her filmmaking.

You have the opportunity to support the making of this film on Kickstarter.

Town of Runners

Town of Runners is a feature documentary about young runners from the Ethiopian rural town of Bekoji, home to the current Olympic and World Champions Tirunesh Dibaba and Kenenisa Bekele.

The film follows three children as they move from school track to national competition and from childhood to adulthood.

The 80-minute long documentary was made in 2012 by Met Film Production and Klikk Production.

Triangle (Sost Maezen)

A film about the hardships of illegal migration and human trafficking by Ethiopian writer-director Theodros Teshome

Kaleab and Jemal are two friends who are willing to endure any danger to reach America and the a promise of a better life, but is it?

Along the way Kaleab meets Winta, who is from neighboring Eritrea and on a similar journey. Kaleab and Winta fall in love as the group of Ethiopians and Eritreans travel an arduous and illegal path from East Africa through Libya, Italy, Mexico and finally to the United States.

The film is produced by Sebastopol Entertainment PLC. It stars Solomon Bogale and Mahder Assefa, two of the most famous actors in Ethiopia. Bogale has starred in over 40 films. Assefa has starred in over 20 films and is currently filming in Ethiopia. Triangle also stars Samson Tadesse and Muluken Teshome, the director'€™s brother.

Nishan (Medal of Honor)

Nishan is a young businesswoman who dreams of leaving Ethiopia to seek her fortune abroad. When her father mortgages the house to support her emigration, an unsigned document creates a disastrous domino effect in Desalegn's thrilling debut.

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Difret - based on a true story

"Three hours outside of Addis Ababa, a bright 14-year-old girl is on her way home from school when men on horses swoop in and kidnap her. The brave Hirut grabs a rifle and tries to escape, but ends up shooting her would-be husband. In her village, the practice of abduction into marriage is common and one of Ethiopia’s oldest traditions.

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Across the Atlantic/Ke Atlantic Bashager

"Across the Atlantic" is a new and powerful film by Writer & Director Kidist Bayelign who brought you the provocative movies "Hiwot Endewaza "and "Etsebeles".

The movie takes place in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, thousands of miles from the main character's origins.

It's a coming of age movie with a dark side, where the worst of teenage behaviors surfaces to create a major cultural clash that eventually erupts into a frightful and dangerous situation.

The young actors provide plenty of suspense and intrigue while Ms. Bayelign has provided a hard-hitting script and technical achievement. This is her finest film to date and will be appearing in theaters in the US as well as Ethiopia by 2012.

Writer/Director: Kidist Bayelign

Assistant Director: Yacob Mengeste

Production Consultant: Allan Ebert

Production Company: Ethiwood Films

Cast: Rebecca Mesfin, RahelNamaga, Kuribachew Woldemariam, Kidist Bayelign

Year: 2012

Framing the Other

 

FRAMING THE OTHER is a documentary film about tourism and its complex relationships with indigenous communities.

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Sewyew

The renowned actor Shewaferaw Desalgen's new film œSewyew (The Man) premiered at the Addis Ababa Culture and Theater Hall last weekend. The new film, involving some 110 cast and crewmembers, is a suspense story on an Ethiopian family. The 95-minute-long film took a year to make and was written, acted and directed by Shewaferaw himself. Aklilu Hailemariam also contributed to the production of the film by helping to co-write the script and Shewaferw's Theater, Film and Advertisement promotion produced the movie.

The movie was filmed in Addis Ababa and Debre Libanos, some 122 km north of the capital. 

The drama and theater artist Shewaferaw has acted in many Ethiopian films, and took his lessons on filmmaking from his various experiences.

Source: The Ethiopian Reporter

Production: Shewaferw's Theater, Film and Advertisement promotion Length: 95 minutes Script writing: Shewaferahu Desalegn & Aklilu Hailemariam

Mefenkile Setoch

 

The film depicts a society where the “roles” of men and women are reversed. The characters represent men in bad situations. Zikuni (Zerihun Asmamaw) is a man trapped by early marriage. Another character, Guanqual Asegid (Fekadu Kebede), is fed up with life because of the burden of house chores and the verbal and physical abuse from his wife.

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Duka

 

DUKA, translated as “Footsteps,” is a movie about a TV broadcast journalist who risks his job and his life to investigate an alleged corruption crime in a federal office. DUKA stars the popular “Ethiopica-Link” radio show host Simon Tsegaye, the moviegoer’s favorite ClearPores actress Meron Getinet and other veteran and young talents.

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Hiroshima

The highly anticipated Amharic feature, Hiroshima, is now showing in all cinemas of Addis. Directed by Serawit Fikre, who also acts in the movie, the film shows a group of Ethiopian businessmen trying to illegally smuggle hazardous waste to Ethiopia through a well-respected pilot and family man, but people get killed in the process.

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Tizitah

 

Mebratu played by Girum Ermias is a dedicated and principled man who after studying in Kenya, was assigned to work in Sidamo to eradicate a wide spread disease which affected cattle  in the 1960’s.

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Lalombe

Sisit

Nardos, a pretty girl from a well to do family in Bishoftu, falls in love with Ashenafi, a badly-off barber, after he gives her a kind treatment when she experienced her first menstrual period.

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'Pendulum' a film by Thomas Getachew

The highly expected Amharic feature, Pendulum, a film by Thomas Getachew the producer of Siryet€™ film premiered on Sunday, March 13 at the Millennium Hall.

An audience of more than 10,000, all from different walks of life, attended the premier. It exhibited a Red Carpet treatment of local film personalities and invited guests of honor. Musicians Helen Berhe & Abinet Agonafir adorned the stage, and the ambience, with their tunes for two hours.

Pendulum was shot with a  Cannon 7D, a Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera. According to the producer Thomas Getachew, the film is a pioneer when it comes to filming with such a camera.

The film depicts the story of Girum, acted by renowned music arranger Amanuel Yilma, as a striving fashion designer who is caught in a love triangle. Cast: Amanuel Yilma, Rekik Teshome, Etsehiwot Abebe, Mesfin Haileyesus Director: Henock Ayele Screenplay: Michael Yibeyin Producer: Tom Film production Genre: Romance comedy Duration: 1hr 50 mins

New Film 'Abarosh'

Moges, played by Chirotaw Kelkay, a devoted single father, is portrayed as a man who represents the elder generation, which vehemently resists to any cultural change. In the film, the single father raises his child Yaynebirhan played by Rahel Tiku, by alienating her from the contemporary trend to make sure she is not “spoiled” by the western culture.

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Silanchi

Wondwossen is a 20 year old high school student who lives with his former lieutenant father under a strict control. While leaving in this situation he meet's a girl named Fikir who grew up in a condition completely different to his and starts to experience emotions and feelings he never had before and gets in to conflict with his usa blackjack online father. Finally he compromises with his father then starts to live in perfect harmony. Director:  BELAY GETANEH Producer(s):  REDIAT YAREGAL & BINYAM ANDARGE Script writers: -Leoul Solomon, Tsegaye Yohanes, Belay Getaneh, BelayTsegaye Duration: 106 minutes Cast: - Sayat Demssie, Tewodros Sefraye, Leoul Solomon, Fikir Tezera, Kiros H/selassie, Solomon Tashe Company: Hanos Film Production

Baleqelem Hilmoch (Colorful dreams)

Tom Jackson, an Englishman, comes from Hollywood to make a documentary film for a local NGO called Coalition to Combat HIV and AIDS (CCHA). But while Tom cannot speak Amharic, the CCHA staff cannot speak English. And the language barrier becomes a real obstacle for the beautiful Ethiopian girls who dream about marrying Tom VigRX and going to America with him. Baleqelem Hilmoch (Colorful Dreams) is now believed to be the funniest comedy film ever made in Ethiopia. Written & Directed by Fitsum Asfaw Cast: Hiwote Abebe, Girma Tadesse and Edward Stevens, an English actor Duration: 105 minuted  Genre: Comedy Company: Bogas Film Production

Lam Alegne

‘Lam Alegne…’ is the latest film from Ethiopian Film Maker Beza Hailu, who previously wrote and directed the Film ‘Enkoklesh’. The title ‘Lam Alegne…’ is a short version of the old Ethiopian proverb ‘I have a cow in the sky - I can’t get its milk because I can’t fly’. The plot centers around a young dreamer and his friend, who wish for the best things in life, but don’t want to work hard to get them. However, the short cut they took, is about to cut their dreams short.

Director: Beza Hailu Director of Photography: Tesfaye Afework Editing and Music: Abenezer Fekadu Producers: AsterYilma,Abenezer Fekadu, Beza Hailu Cast: Solomon Muhe, Hiwote Abebe, Nigusu Getachew, Behailu Getacher, Wendwesen Abera, Weinshet Kebede Duration: 1:32 Company: Benda Picture Studios with Misale Film Production Now showing at Alem Cinema

New Film - Mussie

The most recent film about the TPLF movement focuses on the early years of the Tigray People´s Liberation Front, its origins in 1975, initial training as fighters, and one of the TPLF´s first clashes with the Dergue soldiers in ‘Operation Mussie’.

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FBI - New Ethiopian Film

FBI, a new comedy released in Addis Ababa, tells the story of a young woman Afyam (Bethelhem Demissie) who has to decide between an arranged marriage or love. Unexpectedly she meets Ephrem (Netsanet Workineh), a funny young man who is also a member of a secret group called FBI. She finds herself in a dilemma: shall she follow the path her father set for her - or love?

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Sibirat

'Sibirat', an action movie directed by Henock Ayele,  premiered Saturday 22nd of January 2011 at the Addis Ababa City Hall. The film is a tale of misfortunes: Alemayehu (played  by Sisay Demissie) is a young man who is constantly followed by bad luck.

His parents were murdered when Alemayehu was still a child. Being an orphan, he was then forced to leave the countryside and lead a miserable life all alone on the streets of the capital Addis Ababa. Ten years later, Alemayehu has a steady job and his life seems to have finally taken the right direction. But then, through a series of incidents everything falls apart again. Bad luck follows him whatever he does and wherever he goes.  Alemayehu trusts no one and sees an enemy in everybody that surrounds him.

Screenplay by Sisay Demisse Director: Henok Ayele Producer: Sisay Demisse Cast: Mahder Assefa, Alebachew Mekonnen, Kasaye Dagne, Asrat Tadesse, Sisay Demisse Produced by Sis Film Production

Ye Egir Eta

Cast: Meron Getnet, Feleke Abebe, Dereje Demeke, Fikir Eyesus Zewidu, Zekarias Samuel, Yoseph Digafe. Director:  Tesfaye Gebere Mariam Producer: Daniel Aregaw Genre: Suspense / Tragedy Duration: 1 hr 45 minutes Mimu Film Production

FBI

FBI, a new comedy released in Addis Ababa, tells the story of a young woman Afyam (Bethelhem Demissie) who has to decide between an arranged marriage or love. Unexpectedly she meets Ephrem (Netsanet Workineh), a funny young man who is also a member of a secret group called FBI.  She finds herself in a Online Casino dilemma: shall she follow the path her father has set for her - or marry the man she loves? Cast: Netsanet Workineh, Bethelhem Demissie, Girma Tadesse, Hiwote Abebe, Alemayehu Belayneh, Abinet Dagim, Daniel Birhanu Written and directed by Netsanet Workineh Production Company: Green Picture Production Genre: Comedy Duration: 1hr 25 mn

"Trouble Waters" Premieres in Addis

"Troubled Waters", a new environmental documentary on the Akaki River in Ethiopia, had its premiere before an invited audience in Addis Ababa in early December 2010.

The Akaki River, which runs southeast of Addis Ababa, has the unenviable title of being the most polluted river in Ethiopia. It is heavily contaminated by industrial and sewage effluents which are pumped into it by local factories, households and hospitals. Some of the residents who live near its banks are forced to use the river water for drinking because they have no access to any other source. “Troubled Waters” examines how the scientists are monitoring the pollution and asks if anything can be done to clean up the county'€™s most polluted river.

The premiere featured a panel with members of the Addis Ababa Environmental Protection Agency (AEPA), who are responsible for protecting the river and ENA, an NGO that works with people affected by the river'€™s pollution, and EFI.

Around 80 filmmakers, government environment officials, NGOs and individuals attended the screening, which took place at the Panoramic Cinema, inside the Red Terror Martyrs Museum.

"€œTroubled Waters"€ is a co-production between the Ethiopian Film Initiative (EFI) and the Heinrich Boell Foundation (HBF). The film was based on an idea by Behailu Wassie, which he put forward during an EFI workshop on how to pitch documentary ideas. The urgency of exploring the problems of the pollution of the river on screen was further highlighted during a workshop on commissioning films for environmental agencies held by EFI in conjunction with HBF in September 2010; almost all the participants independently chose the pollution in the Akaki River as one of the most pressing subjects.

The film, which is in both English (with subtitles) and Amharic, looks at the Akaki River and some of the causes of its pollution. It also explores the idea of if the water pollution is getting into the human food chain via the vegetables farmed along its banks. The film features interviews with people living and working along the river, as well as with those responsible with its protection. It asks if anything can be done to clean up the county'€™s most polluted river

"€œTroubled Waters"€ was filmed by Abebe Ketsela, with sound by Haile Segewokal, narrated by Kaylois Henry and edited by Yidnekachew Shumete.

It will be shown again, during an environmental film festival to take place at the Goethe Institute in Addis Ababa next year, as well as at numerous planned local screenings.

Abay Vs Vegas: pioneer for red one technology

Review by Tibebeselassie Tigabu

The highly anticipated film "Abay Vs Vegas" premiered on Sunday 19 December 2010, contemporaneously at 18 cinemas in Ethiopia. Directed by Teodros Teshome, who also appears as an actor in the movie, the film depicts the story of Mena who is caught up between two worlds: saving her blind brother or deserting the love of her life.

Shot with both Ethiopian and Hollywood film crews, "Abay Vs Vegas" is the first Ethiopian film to be shot with the sophisticated RED ONE camera - considered the digital successor to 35 mm film, with over 5 times the resolution of other HD video cameras and a new technology for Ethiopia - making it a huge deal for many viewers.

The main venue was the National Theatre in Addis Ababa, but in addition to Addis cinemas, the film was also screened in Bahir Dar, Dessie and Jimma. The premiere was also shown live on Ethiopian Television.

The story is dramatic: Mena, a girl from the city of Bahir Dar in Northern Ethiopia, meets Salsawi, an Ethio-American played by director Teshome. Salsawi  eagerly wants to find a wife before reaching the age of 40, and they agree to marry.  Mena´s life path appears to change dramatically. And it seems almost too good to be true as it will also enable Mena to help her brother – who had been looking after her before turning blind. Suddenly it is within reach for him to go abroad and get his eyesight back.

But it all gets very complicated when Mena falls in love with Nigus, a farmer from the area of the Blue Nile Waterfall, Tis Abay.

Mena has to take a very hard decision: will she choose the love of her life or marry Salsawi and go to the United States to help her brother?

The reactions to the premiere differed:

Many in the audience were enthusiastic: “I loved the film, the story and also the music score. More than anything I like the characterization and the actors played it well,” states Tigist Belete. “The performances were excellent and the images so crystal clear”, agrees Almaz Tegegne.

However, the technical expectations were high, especially among people from the film and related industries: “RED ONE camera is the latest technology in the world so I expected the film to be great but I was disappointed. On the technical part the color is not constant, the sound is not clear. When you come to the story, it is fragmented. This film is a proof that the director couldn’t use the technology appropriately,”  says IT expert Kebede Lemma.

The film was shot both in Ethiopia and America. In the view of another of the premiere-goers, Girma Dereje, the scenes which were shot in the United States were somehow better than the ones set in Ethiopia. Girma also thinks the hype and the media coverage the film got before it was premiered influenced his high expectations which weren’t totally met.

Even if Theodros Teshome, who also wrote and produced the movie, doesn’t want to reveal the budget of the film, he spent 300,000 birr (about 18,000 USD) for promotion only. The RED ONE camera cost him 62,000 USD and he brought expertise from Hollywood including Director of Photography & Editor Mathias Schubert and Production Designer Stephanie Burain.

Theodros has previously directed several Amharic movies including Fikir Siferd, Kezkaza Wolafen and Key Sitet (Red Mistake).
"Abay Vs Vegas" is now showing in all cinemas of Addis. The cast, in addition to Theodros Teshome (Salsawi), includes famous actor Solomon Bogale (Nigus), Blen Mamo (Mena), Rekik Teshome, Girum Ermias, Tesfa Birhane, Mestawet Aragaw, Wolela Asefa and Tesfaye Sima.

Janderebaw

Title: Janderebaw Directed & Produced by Mihreteab Habte Starring: Abyssinia Gebre Giorgis, Mohammed Mifta, Hiwot Getahun, Solomon Worku, Engdasew Habte, Menweyelet Temesgen, Tigist Milkesa, Eden Hailu, Nebiyat Kindeye Genre: Romance Comedy Running time: 1hr 47 min Budget: 500,000 birr A new film under the title €˜Janderebaw€™ was be premiered last week December 10 at Alem Cinema. The film depicts a story of a woman who is persistent in suffering men as a payback for the wrongs men did in her life as a teenager.

Senait€™ played by Abyssinia Gebregiorgis is a sadist woman who is happy in watching men suffer. She is determined to go to the end of the world in making men as a love prisoner.
With that presumption, she incidentally falls in love with €˜Fitsum,€™ played by Mohammed Mifta, a man who was different from her perception.
Him falling in love with her was unattainable, like waiting a rain in the desert, so she goes to the extreme in making his brother as her boyfriend.
As the telling goes whatever time it takes the truth will be revealed so Fitsum'€™s brother found out how she is playing with him.
He decided to give her a lesson how denial can hurt people and she was able to learn about her hasty generalization in a hard way.

As Mihreteab tells, having young production and acting crews, their common understanding made their work easier and smoothened the whole process.
€œUsually in film making, hustles happen specially when it comes to actors but our case was different that we worked as a family by supported one another,€ comments Mihreteab.
The film took one year and six months of shooting. 

Atletu - The Athlete

 A film about Abebe Bikila by Davey Frankel and Rasselas Lakew

Running the streets of Rome in 1960, an unknown barefoot Ethiopian man stunned the world by winning the Olympics gold in the marathon.

Overnight, Abebe Bikila became a sport legend; a hero in his own country and to the continent, Bikila was the first to win a gold medal and four years later in Tokyo, the first person in history to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in the marathon.

This soldier and quiet son of a shepherd is considered by many the greatest long distance runner in history.

The film won the audience's pinch the wide film festival in Edinburgh 2009 and The Lions Award for best film in The Bright future section wide Rotterdam film festival 2010.

Directed by Davey Frankel and Rasselas Lakew.

Written by Rasselas Lakew, Davey Frankel and Mikael Awake.

Starring

Rasselas Lakew as Abebe Bikila

Dag Malmberg as Onni

Rutas Gedmintas as Charlotte

Abba Waka Dessalegn as The Priest

Music by Christian Meyer

'Washaw' The first feature length animation film in Ethiopia

Title: Washaw Written, directed and produced by Netsanet K/mariam and Philimon K/mariam Read more ... Yetafene Fikir By Yelibenwork Ayele Ethiopian Reporter Months after it was premiering, Yetafene Fikir still draws moviegoers by the droves. That was what I saw Wednesday afternoon at the Ambassador Theather. Two long lines of people waited half an hour just to get to the box office, despite the fact that it was drizzling. Yetafene Fikir (Suppressed Love, loosely translated) brings to light the emotional crisis that two girls experience. Helen has moved in with Ermias, her boyfriend, while Lamrot has married Gezahegn (Enkusellasie Werkagegnew), an old wealthy man who was a friend of her father’s. Ermias’s feelings for his girlfriend are dying while Gezahegn does not express his love to his wife though he still loves and cares for her. Therefore, Lamrot becomes depressed in the monotony of marriage with an old workaholic for whom her youthful passions amount to nothing more than romantic folly. For Gezahegn, work comes first. That is his preoccupation day and night. He gives Lamrot no surprises. Every activity, whether it be visiting families or recreation, must be done strictly according to schedule. Therefore, Lamrot finds herself trapped in the richly furnished house of a 'clock-and-calendar' husband and longs for the excitement of vibrant love she has been dreaming of before committing herself to a lifelong relationship with Gezahegn. Ermias's boredom with Helen and Lamrot's quest for love bring them together and thrusts them into a world of pleasure on a higher plane than they had ever thought possible. The moviegoers on Wednesday afternoon were mostly young men and women. They say that the film deserves to be seen for the issue it raises. Meaza Fikre and Melat Bezabih, young nurses, said that they liked the film They think that if couples saw it together, it would strike a conversation and make them examine the status of their relationship. "What I saw in Ermias is a common weakness among men. His initial feelings for Helen, which he construed for love, were only infatuation or just a physical attraction and in the course of time it was waning and bringing about withdrawal and arguments daily," Meaza said. Half way through the film I could hear some distracting sound in the cinema hall. It was the sound of stifled sobs from a few rows behind me. When the film was over I found the woman who had been crying. Her eyes were puffed up from weeping copiously. Introducing herself to me as Etaferahu Bekele, she said that Lamrot's life was a mirror image of her own. "In my eagerness to get married I accepted the first man who proposed to me. He was a wealthy man and a family friend. The age difference between us is such that he does not understand my emotional needs. Materially, I lack nothing. But I am not a happy woman." Etaferaw is now the mother of a three-year-old boy who, she says, has brought a new kind of warmth into her life. Like Melat and Meaza, she too knows some young men who are like Ermias. "They ignore a call from their wife or girlfriend if they are dating another girl. If they answer the call, they lie to her about their whereabouts. It's very easy to lie on the cell phone." The scenes of cell phone conversation brought the whole cinema boisterous laughter. Almost the whole audience was laughing heartily at the bold lies people were telling while talking on their cell phone and their evasion later on when they were confronted with the situational evidence. Ermias tells his secretary that he is going home because he is sick, but he is actually on a date with Lamrot. When Helen asks him about where he has been the whole day, he says that he has been in the office. "But your secretary said you were sick and went home." "No, I was not sick. She just didn't know I was in the office all the time." Another viewer, Anteneh, said that he was watching Yetafene Fikir for the second time. He had brought a friend along this time. He said that the first time he saw the film he felt so uncomfortable that he almost went out thirty minutes through the film. "I said to myself, 'I am Ermias'. I felt as if I was convicted in a court of law, but I managed to see the film to the last minute and went home resolved to be faithful to my girlfriend," Anteneh said.  Melat Bezabhi said she liked the film and would recommend friends to see it. In her opinion, except for the dialogue, which was always to the point and less life-like, it was a very good film.  Yetafene Fikir is the first script Martha Abebe ever wrote. She is now working on another script. Source: Ethiopian Reporter Bravo Gimash Sew By Yelibenwork Ayele Ethiopian Reporter Gimash Sew is a clear sign that the art of filmmaking in Ethiopia is growing step by encouraging step. The film abounds with fascinating characters and true-to-life dialogue. One of the most interesting characters is Tadesse (Shimeles Bekele) who is stinking rich and wastes thousands of birr buying everybody in a bar a drink, yet so mean that he cannot throw a few hundreds of birr to his poor sister. In word and deed, he is the epitome of hypocrasy and sexual immorality. "Everybody, I'm your sponsor tonight," Tadesse declares to an applauding host of beer guzzlers. Shimeles plays his part so convincingly. Tadesse's guilty conscience makes him uneasy around his friends and family yet his mind brazenly tries to hide his shame with clever turn of phrases. He goes on fooling everybody but only for a while. The truth must be revealed and he must see his own shame exposed to the sight of his own family hint by small frightening hint. In most families, girls are more open to their mother than they are to their father especially when it comes to problems besetting them from the onset of puberty onwards. Strangely enough, in Gimash Sew the father stumbles on his daughter's private pains and keeps them from his wife. The girl's mother only picks up bits of clue and their true significance. But this departure from the social norm suits the final twist of the plot and, therefore, I do not find it too wide of the mark. The only obvious flaw in the casting and acting is a police man at the gate of a police station. He stops a girl on her way into the station and searches her. The entire audience murmured and laughed with objection. For the girl is a rape victim. She is an educated girl from a wealthy family and one who shrinks from the pure, affectionate touches of her own beloved father because of her most recent, traumatizing experience. Seeing in what state of mind she is, submission to the searching hands of a police man running all over her body does not wash with her. I only wish the title of the film were not part of the dialogue. This is a common style in radio and TV dramas as well as some films. For example, Timir Mistir, a radio drama, Mengedegna Mushera, a TV drama and Kezkaza Welafen, a feature film take their titles from dialogue. And one thing they all have in common is that they take their title phrases from conversation toward the last minutes of the drama or film. And it is usually, perhaps fittingly, a phrase from the mouth of either the hero or the villain. In most cases, as in Gimash Sew and Kezkaza Wolafen 2, the phrase comes as a gem of home-spun philosophy inspired by a moment of desperation, anger or disillusionment in the case of Gimash Sew. Such titles mostly describe a character in the story but, instead of trusting the audience to be perceptive enough to see which of the characters fits the descriptive title, the films and dramas tend to hurl the obvious in our face. I wish they could be a little more subtle than that. In some films, such phrases coined on the spur of the moment by a character speaking emotionally, are followed by an explanation studded with poetic beauty. For example, it is too poetic for the police officer in Kezkaza Welafen 2. Fortunately, in Gimash Sew, the man who coins the title phrase does not wax too poetic after saying it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using a phrase from dialogue for a title. There is no law against it. But when it becomes a kind of trend for many films and dramas to follow, it will gradually lose its appeal. For me, it has already lost its bloom. Source: Ethiopian Reporter 'Melak' New Ethiopian Film Melak is a new Amharic Feature Film that has recently been released in cinemas around Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is a film that has began to grab audience's attention all over the country because of its original story idea and unique production style. Read more ... Fusion Addis Address Tel: +251 11 3729865/66 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Areas of work Film production, Sound recording, Equipment rental, Facilities house, Graphic design, Promotions, Communications, Event production Equipments for rent Films Produced “Half a Man” premiers on Monday By Alemayehu Seife-Selassie A new Ethiopian film Gimash Sew (Half a Man) will have its first public premiere at the National Theatre in Addis Ababa on Monday. A tragic film made by Yonas Birhane Mewa, 'Half a Man' is 105 minutes long and features both famous and new actors playing in it. Artistes Shimeles Bekele, Getachew Sileshi, Makida Haile, Alebachew Mekonen and the Misonegaya singer Saron Teferi are among the leading actors. Daniel Geleta is the writer and producer of the film. This is the first script to be turned into a film by Daniel Geleta. Over 450,000 birr went into the production of 'Half a Man" in which 120 actors are taking part. The film is produced under Emawos Film Production. The production company has been engaged in producing documentary films and TV commercials. However, this is its first feature length production. It has taken the filmmakers a year and two months to finalize the pre-production and editing. The production manager of Emawos, Abiy Abebe, told The Reporter this week that the film is based on a true story but the writer has used his creativity to ornament it. The story of "Half a Man" revolves around two friends who are both shareholders of a company. But as one of the partners got too greedy, he tries to get away from paying his dues to his partner. The corrupt partner then tries to use illegal means to shun his friend. To make matters worse, he even molests the daughter of his friend. Driven by revenge, the betrayed partner goes to attack his former friend. But he ends up getting hurt himself. Among the challenges the makers faced while producing the film, the finding of locations was one. “Some filmmakers who have partnered with a few hotels and venue owners have not paid their due respect. They have not promoted the venues, or have not even granted them with honoring certificates. Hence we were faced with a lot of challenges when we looked for venues to make this film,” the Abiy explained, Source: The Ethiopian Reporter Merkato in the Making Sosena Solomon is a young filmmaker who originally hails from Ethiopia. Her latest project, “MERKATO,” explores the fate of one of the largest open air markets in Africa. Sosena is currently in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia documenting major destruction of the market already at work. of note’s Grace Aneiza Ali asked Sosena about some of the challenges she’s facing as an e·merg·ing filmmaker. GAA: Why are you compelled to tell this story? I used to love going to this market with my mom. What was known as an open place for trade is quickly transitioning into shiny modern day malls. They are currently building infrastructure that people cannot afford. They will destroy what people have worked so hard for. These changes, for the worst in my opinion, need to be documented. I want to tell this story because  our culture is represented in these markets. I want to give that a voice. GAA: What are some of the challenges you’re facing as a filmmaker and story teller? I’m facing a plethora of challenges here. One of my cameras is still stuck at the airport. Customs wants 100,000 burr (approximately  $9,000) in cash to release this. I’m currently working with a lawyer to get this released. As a story teller, I always make the best effort to understand my characters and  their experiences. Gaining trust is always an issue here, people think you might exploit them or have some ulterior motive. I am really trying to develop a relationship with the people of Merkato. Some might say this is impossible. Follow Sosena’s progress in the making of “Merkato” on her blog Mekdes Tsegaye's new film - Tisisir Where the search for one’s identity is frustrated by the quest for survival, we welcome you to a new experience in mystery and suspense. Melat is a 26 year old protagonist who represents the strong deeds of this generation and pays the utmost sacrifices in life in search of her identity. This exploration of one’s values is the central theme of the film. Read more ... 'Aldewolem' by Yetnayet Bahiru  Tihut is set up to make a fool out of her best friend's cousin, Melhik, who is desperately seeking a sweetheart. Thinking that she has no idea about his identity, Melhik tries to charm the young girl he only knows as Lily into falling for him. Tihut plays around at first, but as she gets to know Melhik, her world turns upside down as she starts to seriously wonder whether she has feelings for the supposed "victim" of her friend's mischievous plots and whether she could ever reveal her true identity. {youtube}OV3ZOw-jGQs{/youtube} Directed, written and produced by Yetnayet Bahiru, Aldewolem (He didn't call) was nominated for Best Feature Narrative at The Pan African Film & Arts Festival and is also nominated for Best Film in African Language at the 6th Africa Movie Academy Awards     Yesat kelebet A film directed by Biniyam Fikru & Habtamu Deju and produced by Habtamu Deju & Mulusew Wake Cinematography: Besrat Getachew & Tesfaye Afework Production: Ajora Media & Entertainment Genre: Drama Cast: Daniel Muluneh, Mestewat Aragaw Fikerte Tezera, Mikias Terefe, Tewodros Legese, Samuel Dejene,Mulubirhan Asefa, Yohanes Tegene, Asnakech Bekele. Nege (Tomorrow) Directed by Alebachew Arage & Daniel Girma Produced by Alebachew Arage, Sara Mario, Daniel Girma Nege shows the story of one young woman who has been the black ship of the family. Born and raised in wollo region this young woman faces the hardship of having to deal with two orphans as her dying mother makes her promises to take care of them before she considers making a living of her own. The young woman is put in a test as she faces lots of temptations in her life after moving to Addis Ababa, started growing up and fall in love. Nege shows the sacrifice that people are made to make when they are deprived. Berari Liboch ( Flying Hearts) A film written and directed by Biniam Worku and Produced by Kirubel Asfaw. Cast: Solomon Bogale, Biniam Worku, Samsom Tadesse (Baby), Gelila Resom, Kidist G/ Silassie, Getachew Abera, Sirgutemariam Kitaw, Esayas Abriha Camera and Editor: Ibrahim Kassa Light: Zekarias Getenet Wubet Lefetena A film directed by Biniam Worku and produced by Wanna Film productions. Cast : Solomon Bogale, Yirgalem Dejene, Etsehiwot Abebe, Alazar Samuel, Alganesh Tariku, Seife Araya, Moges Woldeyohannes, Tsegsnesh Hailu Editor: Ashenafi Getachew Yikerta An Ethiopian film directed by Yonathan Worku and produced by Teddy Seifu.   Abay vs Vegas Teddy Teshome's latest project Abay vs Vegas is the first film shot on RED ONE camera in Addis.  Read more ... Back to Mama {youtube}P-UWQJVaK8E{/youtube} A son meets his mother after so many years. Both have something to say and know about each other. The son wants to know why his mother left him when he was two years old. The answers, he may know soon. In addition, he may meet a man who has been a hero and saved him in a civil war that was between Ethiopia and Eritrea of 20 years ago. Director and Producer: Ahmed Nuru / Azigza Duration: 10min Type: Short Film Film Location: Ethiopia and Sweden Siryet Directed Written and Produced by Yidnekachew Shumete Cast: Girum Ermias, Enkuslassie Workagegnehu, Bertukan Befikadu,Solomon Tashe... Duration: 1:50 Genre: Suspence   Camparada Camparada is one of the less abstruse cinematic efforts made by young Ethiopian filmmakers in recent years. Set on Mekelle University's campus, the romantic comedy follows the unlikely friendship of two college students: Danny, the campus dream boy, is partnered for a homework assignment with Gelila, a serious-minded introvert with little patience for his games. Working with a tight budget, the films crew makes the most of their resources, coordinating some fairly creative shots, including a lively opening sequence that gives a visual feel for the campus as well as the movie's upbeat nature. The films score purposefully (and with humor) incorporates hit songs by Beyonce and Busta Rhymes, as well as original hiphop and R&B tracks by Ethiopian artists. Its actors—Mekelle University students themselves—deliver their lines with a casual familiarity that stays true to their characters. While the movie is more or less a romantic comedy, it explores facets of social class and life typical of university campuses. The student's banter, in their quest to decipher what's meaningful and what isnt, is particularly enjoyable, covering everything from God and religion to dirty socks and Nido.With many Ethiopian films, you're never sure what quality of production or storyline you're going to get. Overall, Camparada does a great job with creating entirely plausible scenarios and characters. Those whod like respite from the nonstop melodrama typical of most movies will also appreciate that Camparadas comes in bouts, with a decidedly large serving right towards the end. Subtitles: English Director: Letibeb Tasralech Synopsis: Mewuded, an 18 year-olds girl, went to lake-Awassa for a picnic with her parents and a young private driver. Her mother is a woman of pride and the father is of no mercy. Unlike her parents, Mewuded needs her total freedom to lead life on her own way. Parents never understood her until it's revealed that she had made a big mistake that would jeopardize the family's pride. This all forced them to drive back from the picnic in rage. Genre: Family Duration: 1 hr and 45 minutes Staring: Hailemichael Deriba, Hailemariam Seifu, Nigist Hawaz Introducing: - Mahider Assefa Location: - Solomon Lulseged Casting & Props: - Saol Adinew Runner: - Aschalew Tessema Lighting:- Tewodros Teshome Sound & setting: - Zelalem Tessema Camera:- Michael Assefa Script & Supervisor:- Hiwot Leykun Produced:- Yared Tesfa Director:- Eniyew Dechassa Please visit http://hahuproduction.com for further details. Enkoklesh: Talk of the town   Enkoklesh, a much acclaimed film shot and produced in Denver, Colorado and Ethiopia. Read more ... Love and Dance An Ethiopian romantic comedy sets in the context of a street dance competition and hip-hop music in Addis Ababa. Produced, directed and written by Berhane Negussie who makes his film debut with this movie. Actors include singer-dancer Samvod, Bertukan Befekadu, Girum Melkamu  and Getaneh Tehaye with a guest appearance by Haile Gebreselassie. Choreography by Getaneh Tehaye. Music includes unique compositions by Jonny Ragga as well as  tracks by  Mulatu Astateke, Girma Yisfrashew and Hunante Mulu.   Menged {youtube}9XKgBoKcOQ8{/youtube} A lot can happen in the Ethiopian countryside on the long way to the market. A father and his son follow everybodys good advice and come back to their senses. Daniel Taye Workou is a filmmaker of Ethiopian descent, born in Berlin. He is the co-founder of BiraBiro Films, Ethiopia. Menged, his first fiction short, was shot in and around his grandfathers village in Ethiopia. Yewondoch GudayII th Friendship, love, unsafe sex and taking responsibility to be the intertwining dominant themes in Yewendoch Guday II, a new Amharic movie currently being screened at Edna Mall. Reactions to the premier of the movie suggest that it could be as successful as its first part. Yewendoch Guday II is produced by Arkki Sira Film Production,with Yonas Mobile and Habesha Cement Share Company as primary sponsors. Written and Directed by Admasu kebede Cast: Shewaferaw Desalegn, Shewit Kebede, Admasu kebede Samrawi 2 A film by Cool Film Productions Directed and Produced by Fikreyesus Dinberu Cast: Selam Assefa, Darmyelesh Tesfaye, Tesfaye Bekele