Cinema of Ethiopia

Cinema of Ethiopia
The Cinema of Ethiopia and the film industry in general are relatively recent phenomena in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian film industry is growing but faces many problems that have prevented it from fully flourishing. Historically, live stage theater enjoyed more popularity in Ethiopia, creating a handful of relatively successful stage actors. Ethiopian films began modernizing in the 2000s, implementing Amharic, but due to wide home video and DVD distribution, they are often frustrated by copyright infringement in the presence of piracy. This was reduced in the early 2010s with the intervention of the government and the imposition of policy. Despite recent developments, the Ethiopian film industry continues to lack quality compared to modern world cinema and has a low budget amateurish style.
History
The cinema of Ethiopia was introduced in 1897, two years after the first world film was projected on December 25, 1895, in Paris. However, the growth rate critically declined as a result of ongoing sociopolitical instability. Over decades, the Ethiopian film industry has been associated with cultural, religious, and national backgrounds and, under the pressure of its leaders, advanced historical and documentary films.
Berhanou Abebbé wrote in the 2003 article Annales d'Ethiopie that a Frenchman introduced the first cinematic artifacts in Ethiopia in 1898, sold to Italian minister . Ciccodicola then offered it to Emperor Menelik II as a gift. According to historians Berhanou and Richard Pankhurst, before the first public film screening occurred in (1909–1910), the Majesty watched several films over decades. In 1923, the first cinema house was completed and built by Ethiopians. Berhanou also noted that the first cinema house was called Pate; and it was owned by MM. Baicovich, which was functional from 1909 to 1910. During the first phase of cinema introduction, people were unsatisfactory to watch films. Berhanou quoted the French historian Merab, in his Impressions d'Ethiopie (1922), "people apparently didn't like to entertain themselves."
Pankhurst, a distinguished historian published his book Economic History of Ethiopia in 1968, further elaborated that the Armenians were attempted to project by 1909–10, but only attracted by temporary interest and soon abandoned it. Some natives misunderstandingly compared cinema to "devil work". Propelled by objection to the first house opened in 1923, the native labelled the cinema "Ye Seytan Bet" ("devil's house"). Chris Prouty noted that Ethiopia and Eritrea as the only country in Africa indifferent to foreign films. The first Ethiopian film au de Menilek was released on 1909 directed by Charles Martel. The first short film is 16mm black-and-white film, produced on the occasion of Empress Zewditu's coronation day in 1916. In addition, the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie was filmed. There was also produced limited feature films. In 1978, the Ethiopian Film Center to encourage film production, which was later replaced by Ethiopian Film Corporation in accordance with Decree No. 306/1986. It was produced 27 documentaries; two of whom are notable titled BehiywetZuria and Aster. However with the regime of Derg caused a split of sector with private investment.
Little was known before internationally grossed films revived in 1990s. Most of renowned figures responsible for recognition of Ethiopian films internationally are Haile Gerima, Salem Mekuria, Yemane Demissie, and Teshome Gabriel. In 1993, the Ethiopian Filmmakers Association (EFIMA) was launched with objective of boosting the film growth in Ethiopia. At the time, the organization only have 27 founding members who were employees of the Ethiopian Film Corporation, the only public enterprise representing the film industry. The organization grew with 150 members representing five regions of the country. It has been called the pioneer association to bear filmmakers in Ethiopia.
In 2000s, Ethiopian films exceptionally outgrown and implemented Amharic language. However, with distribution to DVD, some filmmakers worried about piracy. According to Addis Ababa Culture and Tourism Bureau, there was an increase of production into from 10 to 112 films in 2005–2012. In 2013, the Ethiopian government planned with stakeholders of various working sectors to draft a new film policy. These include imposing license, expanding film schools, taxations, increasing equipments, and helping filmmakers to encourage production in culturally and diversify background. However scholars such as Aboneh Ashagrie and Alessandro Jedlowski argued that the Ethiopian films may never satisfied to international premiere because of filmmaking preference in amateurish style and differ from foreign norms. There are also internationally grossed films in particular; Difret (2014) and Prince of Love (2015) became the most acclaimed film whereas Rebuni (2015) and Yewendoch Guday (2007) were domestically successful films.
Notable figures
Directors
Haile Gerima
Abraham Haile Biru
Henok Mebratu
Sewmehon Yismaw
Natnael Asefa
Theodros Teshome
Saron Abera
Kidist Yilma
Rasselas Lakew
Yared Zeleke
Zeresenay Mehari
Hermon Hailay
Fitsum Asfaw
Yared Shumete
Mikyas Teka
Henok Ayele
Bereket Werede
Yohannes Baye /Jani/
Adanech Admassu
Diribdil Assefa
Fitsum Wondwossen
Semagngeta Aychiluhem
Dawit Shimelis
Solomon Alemu Feleke
Mesfin Getachew
Hiwot Admasu
Producers
Henok Mebratu
Natnael Asefa
Kidst Yilma
Meheret Mandefro
Seyfedin Shifa
Actors/actresses
Meron Getnet
Selam Tesfaye
Tizita Hagere
Rasselas Lakew
Makda Afewerk
Fryat Yemane
Kidist Siyum
Rediat Amare
Abebe Balcha
Addisalem Getaneh
Eyob Dawit
Alemseged Tesfaye
Hanna Yohannes
Daniel Tegegn
Tariku Birhanu
Hanan Tarik
Henok Berihun
Michael Million
Michael Tamire
Amleset Muchie
Ruta Mengistab
Girum Ermias
Mahder Assefa
Liya Kebede
Solomon Bogale
Samson Tadesse
Michael Shewangzaw
Tigist Girma
Mekdes Tsegay
Muhammed Muftahi
Meseret Gebru
Ruth Negga
Akrosia Samson
Tensaye Yosef
Frey Dagne
Yohannes Ashenafi
Sam Desu
Yafet Henock
Senait Ashenafi
Zeritu Kebede
Kassahun Fisseha
Yigerem Dejene
Tesfu Birhane
Meseret Mebrate
Tedros Kassa
Behailu Engida
Solomon Alemu Feleke
Serawit Fikre
Girum Zenebe
Screenwriters
Theodros Teshome
Bereket Werede
Alebachew Aragie
Yared Zeleke
Henok Mebratu
Zeresenay Berhane Mehari
Natnael Asefa
Hermon Hailay
Semagngeta Aychiluhem
Mesfin Getachew
Kidst Yilma
Fitsum Asfaw
Notable films
Domestically successful films
Gudifecha (ጉዲፈቻ)
Kezkaza Wolafen (ቀዝቃዛ ወላፈን)
Abay vs Vegas (አባይ ወይስ ቬጋስ)
Sost Maezen (ሶስት ማእዘን)
Taza (ታዛ)
Beza (ቤዛ)
Yewendoch Guday (የወንዶች ጉዳይ)
Lattekemegne (ላጠቅመኝ)
Balekelem Helmoch (ባለቀለም ህልሞች)
Hiroshima (ሂሮሽማ)
Rebuni (ረቡኒ)
Kerbie (ከርቤ)
Wede Lijenet (ወደ ልጅነት)
Siryet (ስርየት)
Internationally successful films
Difret
Lamb
Triangle: Going to America
Triangle: Peak of intimacy
Enchained (ቁራኛዬ)
Selanchi
Teza
The Athlete
The Price of Love
Lambadina
Harvest: 3,000 Years
Blood Is Not Fresh Water
Running Against the Wind
Faya Dayi
Major events
Festivals
Addis International Film Festival – This festival is held annually in Addis Ababa, and seeks to provide a platform for both amateur and professional filmmakers. It was created in 2007.
Ethiopian International Film Festival – annually held in Addis Ababa during which many Ethiopian film makers get to showcase their work and awards are handed to the best films as voted by the judges. This festival was started in 2005.
Awards
Gumma Film Awards – The most known and prestigious award in the Ethiopian film industry. Held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia annually, this award show started in 2014 and is the first film award show to be broadcast live on some television channels.
Cinema-related organizations
Film schools
Blue Nile Film and Television Academy
Yofthahe Nigussie School of Theatrical Arts
Addis Ababa University Visual and Performing Arts
Sami-Multimedia Film and Photography School (Adama, Oromia)
University of Gondar film and television department
Mekane Yesus Seminary School of Film and Media
Notable movie theatres
Sebastopol Cinema
Gast Cinema
Alem Cinema
Century Cinema
Gast Cinema
Agona Cinema
Mati Multiplex
References
8. Michael W. Thomas (2022). Popular Ethiopian Cinema: Love and Other Genres. Bloomsbury Publishing