First Ethiopian Film Delegation Heads to European Film Market
ADDIS ABEBA – Ethiopia’s first official export mission under the banner of Ethiopia Creates is going to the European Film Market (EFM) and Berlin International Film Festival between February 20 to 28, 2020.
Four directors, namely Abraham Gezahagne, Beza Hailu Lemma, Hiwot Admasu Getaneh, and Moges Tafesse, plans to present their films during the two events.
They are accompanied by producers Mehret Mandefro and Tamara Mariam Dawit.
The delegation will also be joined in Berlin by staff from the distribution company Habeshaview and Biniyam Tsegaye, Director of Tourism Destination Development at Tourism Ethiopia.
Tourism Ethiopia is supporting the delegation as part of our effort to make Ethiopia a go-to film destination in Africa.
“Our participation aims to support the growth of film and tv projects between Ethiopia and other countries through increased collaboration on production and setting up co-production treaties,” Biniyam said
Over 10,000 representatives of the international film industry will be doing business at EFM.
The Ethiopian delegation will be based at the Africa Hub, a section of the EFM that focuses on the trade and promotion of African film content.
The Ethiopian mission is focused on activities designed to generate international sales, financing, project development and co-production opportunities for the Ethiopian film industry.
Selected filmmakers all have film/tv projects which are export-ready and will be meeting with sales agents, distributors, film festivals, funding agencies, and producers.
“I am proud to represent Ethiopia as part of our delegation to the European Film Market. This is an important opportunity for Ethiopian films to be recognized globally,” director Abraham said.
“For filmmakers like me who have had success in Ethiopia, this program is key to helping me access the global film market,” he added.
The export mission is made possible through the support of Tourism Ethiopia, Habeshaview, IEFTA, Goethe Institute, Gobez Media and Area 51 Films, according to the organizers.
Key Integrations:
• A Fool God by Hiwot Admasu Getaneh is screening as part of the Berlinale Generation section. Hiwot will also be part of special lunch and discussion on February 25, 2020, organized by Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung.
• February 23, 2020, from 11:30, am to 12noon the delegation will present Opportunities for Co-Production with Ethiopia a discussion led by Abraham Gezahagne and Mehret Mandefro in the Africa Hub.
• February 24, 2020, from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm delegation member Tamara Mariam Dawit will be on the panel Roadmaps: Forging New Synergies for Film Production in the Africa Hub
• Delegation members Hiwot Admasu Getaneh and Mehret Mandefro are taking part in Follow the Nile a film development program with their feature project Sweet Annoyance.
Image: Hiwot Getaneh