Directors Statement

Woyane was created out of a stroke of happenstance and fate. In the winter of 2021, I worked on a commercial film project in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. Like much of the world, I was oblivious to the deadly civil war that had been brewing in Tigray, the northernmost region of the nation. While working in Addis, locals would caution me to stay away from the north, as a “military enforcement operation” was afoot. When asked what the conflict was all about, it was often described to me as an attempt by Ethiopian federal forces to rid the region of terrorist activity.

All internet, electricity, and telecommunication services had been cut in Tigray, so media coverage was severely limited. Reading up on the scarce reports that did exist, I began to suspect this conflict was more complex than I had initially thought. The embers of my suspicions were flamed one night after meeting a Tigrayan woman at a hostel gathering. After overhearing my inquiries, the young woman confided in me the horrific experiences her family and friends had endured. She had a collection of grotesque photos to support her accounts.

Upon hearing more and more reports detailing the atrocities occurring in Tigray and with minimal media attention being given to the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation, I made the decision to remain in Ethiopia and undertake an investigation. This pursuit developed into the creation of this film, Woyane.

Working on this project as a one-man production crew these past two years has been the most challenging, heart-wrenching and eye-opening experience of my life. I am forever in awe of the survivors in this film and all those that have risked their lives to expose the atrocities inflicted on the people of Tigray.