EXCLUSIVE: Production is underway in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Canadian production company Gobez Media’s 1970s-set thriller Mehal Sefari, with production scheduled to wrap on February 13.
Ethiopian-Canadian producer Tamara Mariam Dawit is producing the story, which takes place in the 1970s and follows a politically apathetic ambulance driver tasked with collecting bodies from the streets during a mass killing. When he discovers his son’s body it shatters his detachment and compels him to take a side.
Ethiopian filmmaker Abraham Gezahagne directs Mehal Sefari and the cast includes Girum Zenebe, Abebe Balcha, and Tsedey Fantahun from Ethiopia, alongside Ethiopian-Canadian actor Araya Mengesha.
The producing team includes Gezahagne, Harry Flöter, Sander Verdonk, and Ingrid Lill Høgtun. The project went through the 2020 Berlin Co-Production Market and 2021 TIFF Writers’ Studio, among other labs, and is being made in co-production with Germany’s 2 Pilots, Ethiopia’s Abricom, Norway’s Barentsfilm, and New Amsterdam from the Netherlands.
“Mehal Sefari combines the gravity of historical reflection with the suspense of a psychological thriller to create a film that feels both urgent and timeless,” Gezahagne said. “This blend of genre and tone ensures that the story is not only a reflection on the past but also a compelling cautionary tale that speaks to today’s audiences, underscoring the dangers of political apathy and the cyclical nature of violence.”
Dawit added, “Mehal Sefari is a story that refuses silence; it forces us to look directly at what it means to be asked to choose a side when everything feels uncertain. We are committed to supporting filmmakers who explore difficult truths and elevate voices that resonate on a global stage. Working with Abraham and this cast in Addis Ababa has been truly inspiring.”
Mehal Sefari is expected to be completed by the autumn and the filmmakers are targeting an early 2027 festival launch, followed by a targeted release strategy encompassing theatrical, educational, and broadcast platforms.
Dawit runs the Toronto-based Gobez Media with a focus on championing African films and talent. Its films include 2024 Tribeca and Sheffield DocFest selection Made In Ethiopia and 2024 Cannes Critics’ Week short selection Alazar. The company is currently producing drama The Last Tears Of The Deceased.
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