Ethiopian filmmaker Beza Hailu Lemma, Nigerian director Damilola Orimogunje, and Moroccan creator Asmae El Moudir have been honored with funding from the prestigious Hubert Bals Fund (HBF) for their respective film projects. This recognition marks a significant milestone for these talented artists, whose works exemplify the rich storytelling traditions of Africa.
The Hubert Bals Fund serves as the international co-financing arm of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), dedicated to supporting filmmakers from regions such as Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and parts of Eastern Europe. The fund has a commendable history of backing innovative film initiatives particularly from areas that often face challenges in securing funding and developing film infrastructure. Notable projects that have previously received support from the HBF include Kenneth Gyang’s *Confusion Na Wa*, Moise Ganza’s *Tears*, and Inadelso Cossa’s *Mwadia*, among others.
Each year, the HBF announces eight projects that are awarded €60,000 each through its HBF+Europe support schemes, which include five projects receiving Minority Co-production Support and three benefiting from Post-production Support. Damilola Orimogunje’s *Dear Ajayi* has been selected as one of the recipients of the HBF+Europe Post-production Support. This film, which recently wrapped production in Ibadan, Nigeria, is a Nigerian-German co-production set in the 1990s. It tells the poignant story of two estranged sisters who are faced with the challenges of caring for their paralyzed mother while grappling with themes of grief, ambition, and the complexities of family relationships. Orimogunje previously garnered acclaim for her debut film, *For Maria Ebun Pataki*, which premiered at Film Africa 2020 and won an Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award.
For the HBF+Europe Minority Co-Production Support, Asmae El Moudir’s *Don’t Let the Sun Go Up On Me* has been recognized. This hybrid documentary, which has production collaborations in Morocco, France, Norway, Denmark, and Chile, follows the journey of Meriem, who endeavors to fulfill the dreams of her late sister Fatimazahra, a woman who navigated life with xeroderma pigmentosum and lived predominantly during the night. El Moudir’s directorial debut, *The Mother of All Lies*, won the Directing Prize in Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2023, showcasing her exceptional talent and vision.
The third project to receive support is Beza Hailu Lemma’s *The Last Tears of the Deceased*, a film that involves co-production efforts from Ethiopia, Canada, Germany, and France. This dreamlike narrative takes viewers on a journey across Ethiopia as it follows a newly ordained priest who embarks on a quest to uncover the truth surrounding his own childhood death. Lemma’s previous short film, *Alazar* (2024), was well-received at the Cannes Critics’ Week and earned accolades at both the Red Sea Film Festival and FESPACO, further solidifying his place in the cinematic landscape.
As reported by capitalethiopia.com.
