“Mehal Sefari”, interview with producer Tamara Mariam Dawit

Ethiopia enters Final Cut in Venice for the first time with “Mehal Sefari”

Tamara Mariam Dawit, producer from Gobez Media, and acclaimed Ethiopian director Abraham Gezahagne, are the creative team behind the film Mehal Sefari, which is one of the six feature films selected at the 14th edition of Final Cut in Venice 2026, the program of Venice Film Festival and Venice Production Bridge that supports film in post-production from all African countries and six countries of the Middle East (Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen).

Mehal Sefari is the first project from Ethiopia’s to make it into Final Cut in Venice: this emphasizes the importance of the program in opening doors for African cinema. The discussion also explores the film’s themes, production process, and international collaborations.

Mehal Safari in the context of Ethiopian cinema and the Venice Film Festival

Tamara Mariam Dawit discusses how the film’s inclusion in Final Cut in Venice signifies a major milestone, opening new opportunities for Ethiopian filmmakers on the international stage. She emphasizes the importance of this project in elevating Ethiopian stories and facilitating international co-productions. The film itself, set during the Ethiopian Red Terror, offers a poignant look into a turbulent period in Ethiopian history, which remains largely underrepresented internationally. This makes Mehal Sefari not only a political statement but also a cultural bridge through which stories from Ethiopia and Africa at large can reach a broader audience.

The collaborative production process and international partnerships

amara Mariam Dawit explains the extensive international co-production behind Mehal Sefari, involving Ethiopia, Canada, Germany, Norway, and Saudi Arabia. She highlights the strategic role of these partnerships in securing financing and technical expertise, particularly in building production infrastructure within Ethiopia. She shares that most of the crew was Ethiopian, with targeted inclusion of international professionals to facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building. The film was shot entirely in Addis Ababa, using a mix of local talent and foreign crew. This collaborative approach aims to develop local capacity while ensuring the film meets global standards, demonstrating the power of Mehal Sefari to serve as a model for future Ethiopian and African productions.

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