The first module of The Creative Hub Filmmaking Academy – Addis Ababa started in March. This professional training and production program is designed to support the development of Ethiopia’s emerging film and audiovisual industry, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), organized by UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) in collaboration with the Ethiopian Ministry of Labor and Skills, and developed by Anica Academy ETS.
The initiative is part of Italy’s broader strategy to promote the growth of creative industries in Africa by establishing a collaborative training platform between the two countries, based on practical exchange and professional mentoring. It aims to strengthen the technical and creative skills of local professionals, enhancing the country’s capacity to host and collaborate with international productions and supporting the development of original content capable of reaching global audiences and international markets.
The program includes an initial phase for developing the concept and narrative structure, as well as the professional presentation of film projects. Five of these will be developed into synopses and initial treatments, and one will be selected for further development through screenwriting sessions.
Once the writing phase is concluded, participants will take part in a two-day masterclass during the Addis International Film Festival (April 29–May 3, 2024), thereby gaining direct exposure to the regional filmmaking community and the industry landscape. During May, students will continue to work independently in small groups with the goal of delivering the final screenplay by early June, when the project will enter the pre-production phase, featuring training modules dedicated to line production, budgeting, planning, and production management. During this phase, the production schedule, crew structure, and technical workflow will be defined.
Specialized modules dedicated to directing, cinematography, and sound will follow, aimed at forming production teams and preparing the project for principal photography, scheduled for October in Ethiopia, preceded by an intensive preparation week under the supervision of the instructors responsible for the various departments.
A teaser for the short film will be completed by the end of 2026, with further narrative opportunities in 2027.
“The Creative Hub Filmmaking Academy – Addis Ababa” is supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The inaugural ceremony took place at the Creative Hub Ethiopia, in the Arada Post Office building in Addis Ababa, and was opened by Sem Fabrizi, Ambassador of Italy to Ethiopia. Participants included Muferihat Kamil Ahmed, Ethiopian Minister of Labor and Skills; Prof. Nebiyu Baye, State Minister – Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Sport; Michele Morana, Head of the AICS Office; Stephen Kargbo, UNIDO Representative; Francesca Medolago Albani, Director of Strategic Development, External Relations, and Training at ANICA and General Secretary of Anica Academy; Benedetto Habib, Partner Producer at Indiana Production; Sergio Del Prete, Director of Anica Academy; Raffaella Bonivento, Advisor and Senior Manager in television development and production and instructor for the training course. Closing remarks were delivered by Semen Kumurzhi, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute, and Habtamu Gebremeskel, Head of Fab Lab Addis at the Alle School of Fine Arts and Design, Addis Ababa University.
In addition to Raffaella Bonivento, the faculty consists of Francesca Floris, Producer and Founder of Flora’s Room; Andrea Stucovitz, Producer and CEO of Partner Media Investment; and Andrés Arce Maldonado, Director and Director of Photography.
“The project realized with UNIDO is of great value and makes us proud: it also contains a concrete and precious message of collaboration during a very critical international season. Since the Anica Academy Foundation was born, our mission has been to enhance young talent by providing high-quality training paths to concretely transform passion and vision into solid skills, real job opportunities, and growth, including in international spheres. For the Italian side to invest in the new generation of the audiovisual sector in a key African country like Ethiopia means supporting an industrial and creative future, creating bridges between different cultures, professionalisms, and markets,” states Francesco Rutelli, President of Anica Academy.
Rooted in the Ethiopian creative ecosystem and enriched by the expertise of the Italian industry, the program
