Adanech Admassu is an award-winning, freelance director who makes community focussed films for Ethiopian audiences. She specialises in making films for NGOs working in Ethiopia as part of their education and outreach programs.
Over the last ten years, Adanech has directed TV commercials, documentaries and behaviour change dramas. These films have addressed such issues as health, girls’ education, women’s empowerment, early marriage and HIV/AIDS and have been made for DKT, Unicef, Oxfam, Water Aid, Austrian Development Co-operation, and many other leading NGOs working in Ethiopia.
Adanech, working with her network of camera operators, editors and other video professionals in Ethiopia, offers a complete script to screen service and can manage the entire production process. In 2012, representing Gem TV, the Arts and Media NGO where Adanech was trained, Adanech received the prestigious One World Media Award in London sponsored by Channel 4 and the Guardian.
Work Experience
Film Director since 1997 in Gem TV, a part of the Gemini Foundation
Owner and Managing Director of HAFA Film Production Plc
Education
Diploma, UK City and Guilds on Media techniques, television and video competences
Key Past Experience
2002: Directed a 14 minutes documentary entitled “Stolen Childhood” Winner of the 2nd Addis International Film Festival Award on Rights and Justice in 2008;
2004: Directed a 43 minutes Documentary Drama entitled “Pillar of the House”. This was commissioned by the Austrian Development Cooperation and focused on family planning and gender;
2005: Directed a film for ILO entitled “Exploring Employment Potential through Road Works – The ILO experience”. This focused on the labor based road construction projects being undertaken by the organization;
2006: Directed a 30 minutes documentary about Alternative Basic Education being provided by Oxfam GB entitled “Reaching the Unreachable”;
2007: Directed a 15 minute documentary on the Home Care and Support activities that the Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia is undertaking
2009: Directed a 30 minutes documentary film which Gem TV produced for CCM regarding the female genital mutilation in Filtu woreda of the Somali Region;
2011: Assistant Director for a drama and dramatic advertisement produced for Alive and Thrive campaign (dealing with infant feeding);
2012: Received the prestigious ONE WORLD MEDIA award on behalf of Gem TV in London, UK;
2013: Assistant Director for a film about Karayu people (especially the lives of the children) whose life is dependent upon their camels (this film was done in association with Valley and Vale Wales, Labatta Fentalle and Gem TV and was screened in Wales during which I was an invited guest);
2013: Worked as an assistant director and fixer for Safe Hands which was commissioned to make a film on Institutional Delivery and Family Planning in Gondar d Bahir Dar area of the Amhara region (the film was produced in conjunction with Family Guidance Association – Ethiopia);
2013: Wrote, Cast actors, Directed and managed the production of a drama film about TB.
Personal Data
Resident and citizen of Ethiopia; Languages: Amharic and English; Date Of Birth: 30 May 1977
Adanech Admassu Film Director & Fixer in Ethiopia 