Ethiopian Short Film On Orphan Crisis ‘The Other Side’ To Premiere Online Nov. 20
Premiering online on Nov. 20 is THE OTHER SIDE (www.theothersideshortfilm.com), a narrative short starring Ethan Herisse from Ava DuVernay’s Emmy-winning Netflix series WHEN THEY SEE US ,Grammy-nominated Ethiopian-American recording artist Wayna, and newcomer Adonai Kelelom.
Written and directed by Josh Leong, the film seeks to raise awareness for an ongoing crisis that sees 5 million children orphaned, heightened by COVID-19. The story itself follows an orphan boy who is forced to graduate from his orphanage and leave his younger brother behind.
The Other Side was produced by Sofia Bara and Bemnet Yemesgen with Tom Ingwersen serving as the Director of Photography.
Set against the Ethiopian abandoned children crisis, “The Other Side” follows two orphan brothers faced with the reality of never being adopted. Inspired by a true story.
Days before his 18th birthday, Abel (Ethan Herisse, "When They See Us") finds himself about to age out of his orphanage and leave his younger brother, Kiya, behind. But when a prospective adopting couple threatens to break their relationship apart, the brothers wrestle with waiting for a dream that may never be fulfilled.
“Right now, on the other side of the world, five million Ethiopians between the ages of 0-18 remain orphaned. Ultimately, I want to dedicate this film to the children we’ll never forget, 7,000 miles away. Their plight is real, and their need is urgent,” says Leong
The film has played in 10 major festivals (4 Academy Award®-Qualifying), winning Best Short at the Greenwich International Festival. THE OTHER SIDE enjoyed an NYC Premiere at the Urbanworld Film Festival and an LA Premiere at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, in partnership with HBO and WarnerMedia. The film was also included at the 2020 Cannes Film Festival Court Metrage.
