Made in Ethiopia” Documentary Premieres in Toronto, Captivates Audience at Planet in Focus Film Festival.
Toronto witnessed a powerful cinematic experience with the premiere of the documentary Made in Ethiopia, which opened the 25th anniversary of the Planet in Focus International Film Festival.
The film, which took four years to create, had the audience hooked from start to finish as it explored the impact of Chinese investment in Africa, focusing on a development project in Ethiopia.
Made in Ethiopia offers a narrative that intertwines the lives of a Chinese project manager named Motto, Beti, a local worker employed at a Chinese-owned industrial park in Dukem, and a farmer family led by Workinesh. Through their stories, the film paints a picture of the complex effects of industrial expansion on Ethiopia’s local workforce and agricultural communities. As the industrial project grows, so do the challenges for farmers and workers trying to balance personal livelihoods with the changing landscape of their city.
The film also portrayed the broader struggles Ethiopia has faced in recent years, including the devastating effects of the pandemic and civil war.
Made in Ethiopia captures the tensions between development, environmental preservation, and social stability, leaving the audience to reflect on the price of development .
The film is a collaboration between Hard Truth Films, Dogwoof, and Gobez Media, with producers Tamara Dawit, Xinyan Yu, and Max Duncan. The executive producers, including Anna Godas, Oli Harbottle, Susan Jakes, Mehret Mandefro, and Roger Graef, brought their unique insights to this film.
During the post-screening Q&A session, director Xinyan Yu shared her passion for the subject. As a journalist with a keen interest in China’s evolving role in Africa, Yu wanted to explore the impacts of Chinese investment. “The choice between economic development and environmental protection is central to this story,” Yu said. She also revealed that the film resonated with Ethiopian-Americans when it was screened in Washington, D.C., and expressed excitement for its upcoming Ethiopian premiere in January.
