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Multi-camera crew covering the Dashen Beer Football Challenge on an artificial pitch in Addis Ababa

Portfolio

Work we have carried on the ground

Documentary, news, commercial, corporate and scripted productions for clients on six continents — plus the films Henok Mebratu has directed and cut himself.

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Selected clients and credits

Film Ethiopia has provided production services and fixing for Al Jazeera, UNESCO, UNHCR, RT, Bombardier, FH Studio Montreal, Parking Lot Films in Los Angeles, Hurrah Productions in Singapore, Proudfoot and Girl Effect in the UK, Deuxième Ligne Films in France, Arsenal FC and Dashen Beer, among others. Henok Mebratu has separately directed and edited documentaries for the African Union, the European Union, UNDP and the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative, with films screened at the United Nations General Assembly, European Union headquarters in Brussels and in Monte Carlo.

Production services and fixing

Documentary

Azmari

An Ethiopian musician

A documentary about the azmari, Ethiopia's travelling musician-poets who improvise sung commentary on whoever is in the room. Written and directed by Henok Mebratu for Big World Cinema and broadcast on Al Jazeera's Africa Direct strand, with the entire production and post chain handled in house.

Project type
Documentary
Client
Big World Cinema, Al Jazeera
Client country
Qatar, South Africa
Year
2022

Our roles

WritingDirectingProducingLine producingEditingColour gradingData managementBackupTranscription
Watch on Al Jazeera

Exclusive news coverage

RT News Coverage

Reporting from northern Ethiopia

Full ground support for an international news team covering the conflict in northern Ethiopia: crew, equipment, vehicles, translators, accommodation and daily data management, delivered at news pace under fast-changing conditions.

Project type
Exclusive news coverage
Client
RT
Client country
Russia
Year
2022

Our roles

AccommodationEquipment sourcingCrew sourcingScoutingTranslationTransportCateringData managementBackupTranscription
Watch the coverage

Documentary for UNESCO

Futures of Education

Interview with the President of Ethiopia

A head-of-state interview for UNESCO's Futures of Education initiative, with President Sahle-Work Zewde. Protocol clearance, palace access, permits, crew and full production handled locally for a UK production company that directed remotely.

Project type
Documentary for UNESCO
Client
Intrepid TV, UNESCO
Client country
United Kingdom
Year
2021

Our roles

DirectingProducingLine producingFilm permitsEquipment sourcingCrew sourcingTranslationTransportCateringData managementBackupTranscription
Watch the film Intrepid TV

Documentary

The Bookmaker

An ancient craft in Ethiopia

The story of one of the last makers of hand-bound parchment books in Ethiopia, from goat skin to finished manuscript. Written and directed by Henok Mebratu, shot in the highlands in difficult weather, and delivered complete for Al Jazeera's Africa Direct.

Project type
Documentary
Client
Big World Cinema, Al Jazeera
Client country
Qatar, South Africa
Year
2021

Our roles

WritingDirectingProducingLine producingEditingColour gradingData managementBackupTranscription
Watch on Al Jazeera

Corporate photography

Bombardier Magazine

Photographing the Ethiopian Airlines CEO

A corporate photography commission including an interview and portrait session with the Chief Executive of Ethiopian Airlines, plus airside access for aircraft photography. Visas, customs, airport and aviation permissions and drone clearance all arranged in advance.

Project type
Corporate photography
Client
FH Studio, Montreal, Bombardier
Client country
Canada
Year
2018

Our roles

Visa processingEquipment customs clearanceFilm permitsDrone permitsEquipment sourcingCrew sourcingScoutingTranslationTransportCatering
FH Studio

Corporate video

Bombardier

Corporate film in Ethiopia

Corporate film production for the aerospace manufacturer, covering aviation facilities and executive interviews in Addis Ababa with a travelling international crew supported end to end on the ground.

Project type
Corporate video
Client
Bombardier
Client country
Canada
Year
2018

Our roles

Visa processingEquipment customs clearanceFilm permitsDrone permitsEquipment sourcingCrew sourcingScoutingTranslationTransportCatering

Fiction short

A Fool God

Selected for Toronto and Berlinale

A French-produced fiction short shot entirely in Ethiopia, executive produced and line produced by Film Ethiopia, including casting, locations, crew and the full physical production. The finished film went on to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival and Berlinale.

Project type
Fiction short
Client
Deuxième Ligne Films
Client country
France
Year
2018

Our roles

Executive producerLine producerVisa processingEquipment customs clearanceAccommodationFilm permitsEquipment sourcingCrew sourcingScoutingCastingTransportCatering
Berlinale programme

Limited series

Adam Smith: An Animal That Trades

Period limited series shot in Ethiopia

A US-produced biographical limited series with period drama sequences shot on location in Ethiopia. Full service support for a Los Angeles unit including customs, permits, drone clearance, locations, local crew and art department.

Project type
Limited series
Client
Parking Lot Films, Los Angeles
Client country
United States
Year
2018

Our roles

Visa processingEquipment customs clearanceFilm permitsDrone permitsEquipment sourcingCrew sourcingScoutingTranslationTransportCatering
Adam Smith Works

Commercial and corporate video

UD Trucks

Commercial and corporate film

A commercial and corporate package for a Singapore production company, including aerial photography flown by a licensed local drone operator, location scouting along working freight routes, and a full interview and lighting package in Addis Ababa.

Project type
Commercial and corporate video
Client
Hurrah Productions
Client country
Singapore
Year
2018

Our roles

Visa processingEquipment customs clearanceFilm permitsDrone permitsDrone operatorEquipment sourcingCrew sourcingScoutingTranslationTransportCatering
Watch the film Hurrah Productions

Documentary x 2

Girl Effect

Two documentaries on adolescent girls

Two documentaries for the global nonprofit Girl Effect, following adolescent girls in Ethiopia. Line producing, permits, customs, crew and translation for a UK unit working with young contributors, with consent and safeguarding handled carefully throughout.

Project type
Documentary x 2
Client
Proudfoot Ltd, Girl Effect
Client country
United Kingdom
Year
2018

Our roles

Visa processingEquipment customs clearanceFilm permitsLine producingCrew sourcingScoutingTranslation
Watch Proudfoot

Limited television series

Dashen Football Challenge

A trip to Arsenal FC

A multi-episode television series following Ethiopian football fans competing for a trip to Arsenal FC in London, produced with Dashen Beer and Arsenal. Multi-camera coverage of the competition in Ethiopia, travel production in the UK, and the complete post-production chain delivered in house.

Project type
Limited television series
Client
Berry, Dashen Beer, Arsenal FC
Client country
United Kingdom, Ethiopia
Year
2017

Our roles

ProducingLine producingFilm permitsEquipment sourcingCrew sourcingScoutingTranslationTransportCateringData managementFull post-production
Arsenal FC news

Documentary shorts

Dangerous Crossings

Refugee stories for UNHCR

A series of short documentary portraits for UNHCR, following individual accounts of dangerous migration routes. Filmed in Ethiopia with careful attention to contributor consent, anonymity where required, and accurate translation of testimony.

Project type
Documentary shorts
Client
UNHCR
Client country
International
Year
—

Our roles

Production supportCrewTranslationPost-production

Directed, edited and produced by Henok Mebratu

The other half of the company. These are the films that make the fixing work better, because the person planning your shoot has had to cut one.

Documentary

Africa's Vision: Prosperity and Peace

Screened at the UN General Assembly

A documentary on the African Union's vision for the continent, directed, produced and cut by Henok Mebratu. Screened at the United Nations General Assembly in New York and at the Africa-America Institute gala.

Project type
Documentary
Client
African Union
Client country
Ethiopia, United States
Year
2013

Our roles

DirectingProducingEditingGraphicsSound design

Documentary

AU–EU Joint Partnership

Screened at European Union headquarters

A documentary on the joint partnership between the African Union and the European Union, directed and produced for the EU and screened at European Union headquarters in Brussels.

Project type
Documentary
Client
European Union
Client country
Belgium, Ethiopia
Year
2013

Our roles

DirectingProducingEditingColour gradingGraphics

Documentary

Ten Years in the Quest for Peace and Security

Screened before thirty heads of state

Commissioned by the African Union to mark a decade of its Peace and Security Council, and screened in the African Union Conference Hall in Addis Ababa in the presence of more than thirty heads of state and government.

Project type
Documentary
Client
African Union
Client country
Ethiopia
Year
2012

Our roles

DirectingEditingColour grading

Documentary

We All Count

Screened in Monte Carlo

An independent documentary directed and produced by Henok Mebratu, screened at the Musée Océanographique and Le Cram in Monte Carlo, Monaco, with an introduction from Billy Zane and Mo Ibrahim.

Project type
Documentary
Client
Independent
Client country
Monaco, Ethiopia
Year
2010

Our roles

DirectingProducingEditingColour gradingSound design and mix

Documentary

Trees of Life

Environment documentary for UNDP

A documentary for the United Nations Development Programme on reforestation and livelihoods in Ethiopia, directed, edited and graded in house.

Project type
Documentary
Client
UNDP
Client country
Ethiopia
Year
2011

Our roles

DirectingEditingColour grading

Documentary

Africa Governance Initiative

Governance documentary

A documentary for the Africa Governance Initiative on public sector delivery in Ethiopia, directed and produced with the full post chain completed in house.

Project type
Documentary
Client
Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative
Client country
United Kingdom, Ethiopia
Year
2015

Our roles

DirectingProducingEditingColour gradingGraphics

Feature films

Ethiopian feature films

Four features edited, graded and finished

Four Ethiopian feature films cut, graded and finished by Henok Mebratu: Yeras Ashker (One's Own Slave, 2013), Tiba-Tibe (2012), Yebahir Ber (Sea Port, 2008) and Zema Hiwot (Melodic Life, 2006), covering editing, colour, visual effects, titles and sound mix.

Project type
Feature films
Client
Various Ethiopian producers
Client country
Ethiopia
Year
2006–2013

Our roles

EditingColour gradingVisual effectsSound mixTitles

Start a production

Want a reference?

We are happy to put you in touch with producers who have shot here with us. Ask and we will make the introduction.

Request a quote hello@filmethiopia.com