By Katie Chambers
Welcome to NYWIFT, Herrana Addisu!
Herrana Addisu is a multi-disciplinary artist and social impact strategist.
Her family’s journey to the United States and her personal experience growing up in Ethiopia and immigrating to the U.S. have shaped her career in human rights. She works to uplift marginalized communities through advocacy initiatives, research, and programming.
She incorporates her expertise in various human rights issues into her artistry through Chucha Studios LLC, a creative production agency that aims to reduce social disparities within marginalized communities by connecting the art of visual storytelling with systemic change.
NYWIFT was proud to present Herrana with the NYWIFT Award for Excellence in Short Film Directing at the 2024 UrbanWorld Film Festival for her short film The River this past Fall.
She spoke to us about her short film, upcoming projects, and what types of creative work resonate with her most.
Herrana Addisu (from Instagram)
Congratulations on winning the NYWIFT Award for Excellence in Short Film Directing at the 2024 UrbanWorld Film Festival for your short The River. It’s such a great festival, and NYWIFT has been proud to partner with UrbanWorld for over a decade in a variety of ways. What did inclusion in UrbanWorld mean to you?
Winning the NYWIFT Award for Excellence in Short Film Directing at UrbanWorld was an incredible honor. UrbanWorld has long been a platform that uplifts diverse storytellers and champions the voices of underrepresented filmmakers. Seeing The River resonate with audiences at such a prestigious, Academy Award-qualifying festival affirmed the importance of centering Ethiopian narratives and global issues through an authentic lens.
Being recognized by NYWIFT, an organization dedicated to amplifying women in film, makes this moment even more meaningful. It’s a testament to the power of storytelling and the importance of fostering spaces where voices like mine can thrive.
Still from The River (Image Courtesy of UrbanWorld)
Tell us about The River. What inspired the film?
The River is a deeply personal film inspired by my childhood home in Kebena, Ethiopia. It is a tribute to Ethiopian culture and the resilience of women who navigate systemic barriers with strength and grace. The film reflects on themes of beauty, womanhood, and survival, highlighting forced marriage, access to education, and the ongoing global water crisis.
I wanted to create a cinematic experience that feels both intimate and expansive, shedding light on the lived realities of many women while celebrating their unwavering spirit.
NYWIFT Board Member Emelyn Stuart presents Herrana Addisu with the award at the 2024 UrbanWorld Film Festival (image courtesy of UrbanWorld)
The visual language of The River is so striking – like a poem in motion. How did you develop this?
The film’s visual language was crafted with intentionality, drawing from Ethiopian aesthetics, folklore, and natural landscapes. I worked closely with the production company Qene Films, our poet Tikus, and the whole crew to ensure that every frame carried emotional depth—using soft, ethereal lighting, rich textures, and fluid camera movement to echo the rhythm of the river itself.
Herrana serves as a judge for the Yale Innovators Prize at Startup Yale 2025, an award created to champion bold ventures that don’t fit traditional categories, but have the power to create lasting impact. (From Instagram)
The River not only celebrates the art of beauty but also highlights the systemic barriers women face in the context of forced marriage, education, and water access. How did you strike that balance?
Striking this balance was essential to the storytelling. Beauty, in the film, is not just an aesthetic—it is a form of resistance and survival. By juxtaposing intimate, tender moments with stark realities, I sought to illustrate the duality of the female experience.
The river itself is a metaphor for both freedom and entrapment, much like the societal constraints placed on women. Through poetic visuals and layered performances, I wanted to honor the resilience of women while confronting the structures that seek to limit them.
How has your personal immigrant experience impacted your work?
As an Ethiopian immigrant, my work is deeply informed by the complexities of identity and belonging. Navigating multiple worlds has given me a unique perspective on storytelling, allowing me to bridge cultures and bring nuanced narratives to the forefront.
My films often explore themes of memory, home, and systemic inequities—issues that are personal but also universally resonant. I strive to create work that fosters connection and understanding, particularly for those who have felt unseen in mainstream narratives.
(From Instagram)
What are some upcoming initiatives with Chucha Studios, LLC? How are you hoping to reshape the narrative? What is next for you?
I am in the process of writing my next script and excited about our recent release with Black Archives, expanding on our series Welcome Home.
Chucha Studios remains committed to amplifying underrepresented voices through powerful storytelling, and we continue to develop projects that challenge dominant narratives and highlight the lived experiences of marginalized communities.
Through film, photography, and multimedia initiatives, we aim to create impactful work that sparks dialogue and drives meaningful change.
(From Instagram)
What is the best advice you ever received? And the worst?
Best advice: Trust your vision and lean into your unique perspective—it’s what sets you apart.
Worst advice: Play it safe. Every meaningful opportunity I’ve had came from taking creative risks and embracing unconventional path even if people do not support at first.
Connect with Herrana Addisu on her websites www.herranaaddisu.com and www.chuchastudios.com, and follow her on Instagram at @herranathegreat_ .
Katie Chambers
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