INTERVIEW: The Ethiopian art scene is booming. Cinemas around Addis Ababa are often full, showing not only international movies but Ethiopian movies as well.
In the last 10 years, improvements in almost all areas of filmmaking such as production, editing, directing and acting have been made. Playing a quiet but determined role in this noble effort is a grass-roots organization named Alatinos. Samuel Getachew had a chance to interview its secretary, the passionate Menelik Merid for The Reporter.
Reporter: Tell us about Alatinos Film Makers Association. How long has it been since its founding and what has been its primary objective?
Alationos: The word Alatinos is derived from Geez, literarily meaning ‘truth’ and ‘honesty.’ Our objective is to serve Ethiopian film and art truthfully and honestly and those noble words can also be found in our motto in words but the dream is to achieve it in practice. The movement was initiated seven years ago by amateur filmmakers, by the now professional filmmakers such as our president and film editor Yared Shumete, vice president and film director Henok Ayele, actor Gerum Ermias, actor Mesfin Haileyessus, actor Admasu Kebede, actor Solomon Tashie (gaga), actor and director Michael Million, among others. Their first years were devoted to building awareness and capacity through discussions, in 2006 they were permitted to use the Russian Cultural and Science Center as a gathering place on a weekly basis. This paved the road for the group to be the first Ethiopian institution to organize a forum for emerging and professional filmmakers and to have a direct contact with true artists and academics. In the last five years, we have registered 425 annual members and our leading objective has been to transfer knowledge, experience and skill for the betterment of Ethiopian films and we have been highly successful in that. Our weekly Thursday night gathering is almost always filled with participants.
What other objectives do you currently have that will practically benefit the members?
Another objective for us is to build a network between our members and the outside world. This will enable our members to participate in professional high-class movies. Our members have attended short film festivals and seminars from 2006 to 2011 and eight of our members have studied film-making on a scholarship basis at Tom Videography and the Photography Vocational Center. We have also worked with government institutions and professional associations from many areas. This collaboration has enabled us to exchange view with PM Meles Zenawi at an open forum with many artists. Our association has been headed by a board of directors for the last three years. These prominent leaders are Yared Shumete, Henok Ayele, Thomas Wondimu, Wossensegid Tesfayie, Girum Tsehayie, Zelelam Tesfaye and Andom Tdshu.
Tell us about the weekly Thursday program that Alatinos hosts at the Russian Cultural Center?
Our Thursday weekly gathering has a diversified and unified presentational style. Experience sharing sessions are held for professional film makers to express their methods, work ethics, professionalism and techniques. The hope is that it will pave the way for our members to be successful artists in the many years to come. The second format is an aesthetic and technical screening sessions, in which professional film-makers are challenged on the interpretation style of their movies. This format attracts a large audience because most of our members want to be professional filmmakers. The third type is a question-and-answer session with institutional leaders and policymakers on basic issues of Ethiopian film-making and experience. Last week, the Producer’s Association vice president, Ato Thomas Getachew, discussed with our members the much-discussed Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and artist’s forum that was held this week. The fourth format is a workshop and demonstrational program. In a short while, we will be having a practical film makeup demonstrational workshop with Artist Tesfaye Wondimagegn. Our final format is at the end of each year, where we have a five or six-day workshop that are outside of the film subject but can have practical meaning to our members in their pursuit of a great art career. Through the years, we have modified our way of presentation to satisfy the wants and needs of our great members.
Looking back on the last decade, how has the film industry advanced in Ethiopia?
There is factual evidence that the concept of film was introduced at Emperor Menelik II’s time in Ethiopia. At the Russian Embassy, one could watch Emperor Menelik II’s film. The first two Ethiopian fiction films are the black-and-white ‘Hirut Abatwa Manew?’ made in 1965, and the first color ‘Guma’ made in 1975 The last 10 years has seen Ethiopian films become very popular. In part because of the great contribution of great movie-makers such as Tewederos Teshome and Tatek Tadessie, we have seen great improvement. In addition, movie-makers have established their fan base, the Culture Tourism Standardization and Registrar Office is always busy certifying Ethiopian films for the general office where our association is also an active participant.
The Edna Mall Cinema, Alem Cinema, Cinema Yoftahe, Agona Cinema are accommodating the interest of the moviegoers and are almost always at full capacity. On the private business sector, the Ethiopian Addis international film festival and the Initiative Africa Documentary Festival are annually providing the network for screening, empowering and recognition of great Ethiopian art. FM Radio stations, EBS and ETV television stations are giving enough time for entertainment programs. The Gemena TV soap opera has paved the way for TV drama shows and is striking a great interest among Ethiopians.
What are the future plans of Alatinos Filmmaker’s Association in the coming years?
I think our first objective should be that of funding. We hope to do that by connecting with institutions that could support us on a financial basis, facility and structurally to meet our goals. This will make us a truly established institution and eventually, we will be doing universally advanced programs five days a week in the specialized areas of acting, directing, screening, and cinematography and editing on the level for professionals, semi-professionals and beginners. We will also hope to have short and long feature length festivals soon. Our long-term plan is to open branch offices outside the capital and become an association that serves all Ethiopians. Alatinos is honestly, truthfully and we are convinced our objectives will be met in the coming golden years.
