SPEAKERS

An Ethiopian academic, creative writer, performer, business, media, art, and police work consultant for the government and commercial sectors. Working in Addis Ababa University a highly educated individual with a PhD in African and Asian Studies, an MA in Cinema Production, and an MA in Institute of Ethiopian Studies (I E S) Cultural Studies has a distinct blend of skills in African culture, cinema theory, and cultural analysis. Deep understanding of African history, politics, and society

Producer, Director, and Editor Aida Ashenafi has been in the film business for the past 18 years. She has been working in New York, United States, for 9 years, and here in Addis Ababa for 9 years. She is a graduate of Ithaca collage with a degree in Film, photography and visual Arts.

She began her career by working for a music business at Jive Records in New York City, overseeing music videos for big artists. Later, she co-founded Sauce Entertainment, a New York-based production and post-production company. She has produced various TV commercials for companies such as Nike, Panasonic, Coca-cola, Dark and lovely, and Toys ‘R’ Us – companies located in the USA and in Ethiopia. She supervised music videos for R Kelly, Back Street Boys, Tribe called Quest, Joe, and many others. Aida also produced various feature films and the romantic comedies “I THINK I DO” and “MEDIA NOCHE”.

Mahelet Gezachew, an Ethiopian-American Executive and Producer based in Los Angeles, holding a diverse background in Film and TV Development, Activism, and Marketing Partnerships. Her recent role was as the Head of Content at D!NK TV based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where she produced over 40 episodes of unscripted content across their YouTube platform. Previously, she contributed as a Development Consultant for A FEW GOOD WOMEN and served as a Development Executive building Nike's Sports Film Label. Additionally, she held a managerial position at ARRAY Filmworks, Ava DuVernay's production company, and kicked off her career at Marvel Studios within Global Marketing & Partnerships. Her unwavering passion for storytelling is at the heart of her work, focusing on entertainment, social justice, and crafting purposeful narratives. She is dedicated to fostering creative infrastructure in Ethiopia and throughout the African continent, ensuring the amplification of intentional and globally relevant stories.