Abigail Megbar Debebe is a young Ethiopian filmmaker with a passion for educating, connecting and entertaining others through film. Kelvin Kagambo is a Tanzanian filmmaker who believes in telling authentic, personal stories that encourage the audience to experience the world from a different angle. Ruth Nazzinda is a Ugandan storyteller and podcaster who is passionate about creating content that impacts her community.
These three filmmakers are part of the latest cohort of 15 DW Akademie Film Development Fund grantees from Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda. Five grantees per country were selected by three country-specific juries comprised of industry professionals.
"It is so rare that a film project gets funding this early and having an experienced filmmaker's mentorship is a unique opportunity. I can’t think of a more perfect way to grow my filmmaking career!" said Abigail Megbar Debebe, a filmmaker from Ethiopia and 2023 grantee.
Each successful grantee must have released at least one film and have a ready concept for a feature-length documentary, fiction or hybrid film. The program is designed to support the filmmakers as they work to take their proposed films through the development stage.
"My project is like a small plant and the DW Akademie Film Development Fund offers the light it needs to grow and have a great impact on society," said Ritha Saxon, another 2023 grantee and a filmmaker from Tanzania.
Three countries, one growing community
The program, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), supports five grantees from each country to work on the development of their films. Grantees will receive €10,000, be matched with an experienced script mentor for the duration of the program and have access to tailor-made training and networking opportunities. Workshops and skills development trainings will be led by industry professionals.
The program was made possible through close collaboration with the three lead country experts, Tamara Dawit for Ethiopia, Amil Shivji for Tanzania and Fibby Kioria for Uganda, who designed the training and mentoring program for 2023 and will accompany the 15 grantees through the funding year.
"I am very excited about the selected grantees this year – especially with so many being new voices – and their potential to tell personal stories with a communal impact," said Shivji.
"One of the reasons the Film Fund has been successful is the growing community of film professionals that are involved and collectively contributing to the strength of the program," said Lina Hartwieg, program director, DW Akademie Film Industries. "This also applies to many talented and motivated mentors who are more than willing to share their deep knowledge of the craft and the industry."
With the Film Fund, DW Akademie is actively contributing to social change, freedom of expression, and the economic empowerment of local African storytellers. The project was launched in 2021 and, in addition to the 2023 grantees, has already supported 15 filmmakers in developing their films. This is the first year that the Fund's application process ran simultaneously for all three countries.
The following filmmakers (listed with their film projects) have been selected for the 2023 funding round:
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DW Akademie Film Development Fund 2023: Meet the grantees!
Ethiopia - Henok Legesse Birhanu, filmmaker
The DW Akademie Film Development Fund presents an excellent and thrilling opportunity for me to bring my story ideas to life.
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DW Akademie Film Development Fund 2023: Meet the grantees!
Ethiopia - Abigail Megbar Debebe, filmmaker
It is so rare that a film project gets funded this early, and having an experienced filmmaker's mentorship is a unique opportunity. I can’t think of a more perfect way to start my filmmaking career!
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DW Akademie Film Development Fund 2023: Meet the grantees!
Ethiopia - Habtamu Gebrehiwot, filmmaker
The DW Akademie Film Development Fund is a great opportunity for my career as a writer because it helps me develop industry standards, professional writing skills with the help of mentors and the development team. It will also give me a chance to concentrate my time and energy on writing my first feature film script for a full year.
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DW Akademie Film Development Fund 2023: Meet the grantees!
Ethiopia - Bontu Shiferaw, screenwriter/director
The DW Akademie Film Development Fund is very important for filmmakers from developing countries who are finding it hard to tell their stories because there is lack of money, proper guidance and mentorship. The fund offers the opportunity to develop an idea, one-to-one mentorship, creates the stage for networking and much more.
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DW Akademie Film Development Fund 2023: Meet the grantees!
Ethiopia - Leul Shoaferaw, filmmaker
One of the biggest challenges for filmmakers [in Ethiopia] is that they don’t have the necessary support system, time and supportive environment when they set out to do a film. Development programs like the Film Development Fund help filmmakers spend adequate time crafting and developing their concepts, without being rushed or financially strapped.
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DW Akademie Film Development Fund 2023: Meet the grantees!
Tanzania - Freddy Feruzi, filmmaker
As I am aspiring to be the best filmmaker I can be, DW Akademie Film Development Fund is the best opportunity to expose me to world-class filmmaking expertise.
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DW Akademie Film Development Fund 2023: Meet the grantees!
Tanzania - Kelvin Kagambo, filmmaker
I believe this grant is a tremendous boost to my script development. It will provide the resources and support necessary to bring my vision to life in a very professional way.
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DW Akademie Film Development Fund 2023: Meet the grantees!
Tanzania - Frank Sylvester Machiya, documentary filmmaker
To be considered for the DW Akademie Film Development Fund is a great honor and a privilege. Thank you DW Akademie!
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DW Akademie Film Development Fund 2023: Meet the grantees!
Tanzania - Neema Ngelime, documentary filmmaker
I am excited to put my curiosity to good use. DW Akademie Film Development Fund will give me the support to explore the storytelling possibilities of my film.
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DW Akademie Film Development Fund 2023: Meet the grantees!
Tanzania - Ritha Saxon, filmmaker
My project is like a small plant and the DW Akademie Film Development Fund offers the light it needs to grow and have a great impact on society.
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DW Akademie Film Development Fund 2023: Meet the grantees!
Uganda - Daisy Masembe, filmmaker/storyteller
Every once in a while, I need a little help to harness the talents and skills that God has given me. I am so grateful to DW Akademie Film Development Fund for the help that I will receive to tell my stories.
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DW Akademie Film Development Fund 2023: Meet the grantees!
Uganda - Ruth Nazzinda, filmmaker/storyteller/journalist
It's a pleasure for our film to be part of the DW Akademie Film Development Fund. It's an opportunity to break the stereotypes and tell stories that are worth being told and change the narrative about stories that are happening in our society but are often ignored.
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DW Akademie Film Development Fund 2023: Meet the grantees!
Uganda - Patience Nitumwesiga, filmmaker
I feel so privileged to get this grant to work on a script I have been working on for a couple of years. It feels quite divine because I think I am at the time and place to be able to take time off to write. It is a relief to have support to do this kind of development work as it needs so much more than we are usually able to afford.
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DW Akademie Film Development Fund 2023: Meet the grantees!
Uganda - Daniel Semulema, producer/writer/director
The DW Akademie Film Development Fund will give me the freedom to create.
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DW Akademie Film Development Fund 2023: Meet the grantees!
Uganda - Ivan Tusabe, screenwriter/director
The DW Akademie Film Development Fund supports the creation of impactful and original African films by empowering African storytellers to develop their stories. Powerful scripts are where it all begins. George Cukor once said: "Give me a good script and I'll be a hundred times better as a director."
Ethiopia:
Henok Legesse Birhanu "Manbeb, Metsaf ena Manenet"
Abigail Megbar Debebe "Abyot"
Habtamu Gebrehiwot "The Fortunate!"
Bontu Shiferaw "Aware"
Leul Shoaferaw "Tiny Grain. Big War"
Tanzania:
Freddy Feruzi "A Message to the President"
Kelvin Kagambo "Asante"
Frank Sylvester Machiya "Wagumu"
Neema Ngelime "The Ones with The Tempered Flowers"
Ritha Saxon "1 in 10"
Uganda:
Daisy Masembe "Nekesa"
Ruth Nazzinda "Revenge Porn Ug"
Patience Nitumwesiga "The Stone that Moved"
Daniel Semulema "The King's Portrait"
Ivan Tusabe "What Shines on the Shore"
DW Akademie supports global film
The DW Akademie film industries team supports and implements projects that aim to strengthen the economic systems of film industries in the Global South and to contribute to freedom of expression. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), DW Akademie professionalizes and qualifies filmmakers in the creation, production and distribution of films and series. In this context, DW Akademie works and has been working with a variety of partners for more than ten years, such as STEPS, the LADIMA Film Academy, Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin (DFFB) and One Fine Day Films.