Film & Animation

Nebsei (My Body), 2023

Nebsei, meaning ‘my body’ in Tigrigna, is a short film revealing the story of women who faced sexual and gender based violence during the Tigray War in Ethiopia. Nebsei (2023) will be screening at the Living Democracy exhibition, Brunei Gallery at SOAS London University from the 12th of January to the 16th of March 2024.

For Tigray, 2021

On November 4th, 2020, unelected Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed declared a genocidal war on Tigray, the northernmost regional state of Ethiopia. His administration has limited and blocked access to electricity, aid, food, and water for millions of Tigrayan civilians. Through a conflict so saturated in political debates, For Tigray looks through the lenses of the people. From life before the war, and the collective future on the horizon.

#TigrayGenocide #StopWarOnTigray

Visit Tigray Directory tab for resources on how to take action now in ending Tigray Genocide.

Tigray Ti’wet, 2021

#StopWarOnTigray

The Masked Lover, 2020

A short animation by Gabrielle Tesfaye

Frewayni falls in love. Based in Ethiopia, the relationship takes her on a journey of discovering new love, and becoming closer with her own culture. After a painful breakup revealing secrets, she too discovers a hidden truth within herself ::

Ethiopia Yene Fikir (My Love Ethiopia), 2019                                          

Short, Animation, Hybrid

Set during the time of the Red Terror war in 1970’s in Ethiopia, the country’s political tyranny has created huge population of refugees searching for an escape. Based on a true story, Yene Fikir, Ethiopia, meaning ‘My Love, Ethiopia’, follows the turbulent and mystical journey of a young girl searching for freedom after being separated from her family. As she embarks on a painful migration through the scorching desert, magical guardian angels are sent to aid her by a mysterious and ancient Goddess in the skies, holding the secret to heal her homeland. With the presence of her angels, and the power of her magical krar, she discovers hidden powers within herself she was unaware of before.

The Water Will Carry Us Home, 2018                                            

Short, Animation, Hybrid

Through living ritual and stop motion animation, The Water Will Carry Us Home reveals the story of stolen Africans being thrown off the slave ship whilst sailing through the Middle Passage. Upon crashing in the waves, a phenomena happens when the presence of Yoruba Orishas dwelling in the water saves these spirits.

When the Sun and the Moon Fell in Love , 2016                                       by Gabrielle Tesfaye

In this stop motion puppet animation, a creation story of day and night is revealed through the undying and complex relationship between the Sun and the Moon. Love and loss is expressed in a touching cosmic love story, outlining metaphors of shared personal narratives.