NAFKOT film is a result of my almost 7 year’s engagement as an applied anthropologist and activist with this hidden Jewish community in Ethiopia. After two years since I met the community they told me they are ready and willing to share their story with the rest of the world and use the film to support their struggle for recognition and religious as well human rights in Ethiopia and Israel.

I am 65 years old with 40 years career as university professor. I wrote 15 books based on my research. When I became 60 u decided to go to film school to study documentary filmmaking. I discovered my specific niche as engaged ethnographic filmmaker, through the participation of my film in many festivals. I am also life coacher and video therapist.

I am currently involved and working with Jorge bodansky, amazing Brazilian filmmaker who is my highest inspiration…I can’t indicate any other film. As I have watched endless films…

Since I have made my first film…I understood that filmmaking is my language,,,and I already did 4 films during 5 years since I graduated from film school…already working on my next projects…

The biggest challenges I faced were firstly the fact that I am working with still a hidden community under persecution. There were many ethical issues and much fear among people that we had to overcome. The second one was physical. The community is hiding in remote area, no roads or electricity on the way. Very deep down the mountains…it was extremely hard to get there especially for me…third, I did not get any grant to pay for this film…so all my work in Ethiopia and the making of this film were done using all my retirement savings for about 5 years …

I was my own producer…director as well as community activist at the same time…I had to arrange all the traveling in Ethiopia, come to Ethiopia every six month. Work with the Amharic language….the translation was very challenging and took a lot of money because we had to do it again and again…my editor was wonderful, we worked closely to keep the right concepts and make sure the contact will not hurt the community…

The film already won 40 awards in festivals all over the world, and participated in more than 20 festivals. And I was on a screening tour in the usa for 11 screening events…the feedback is amazing, most of the people amazed about the story itself, about the harsh conditions of struggles of the community and their struggle to continue their Jewish traditions and identity…also there are strong reactions to my own part in the film, the hard journey I went through, my commitment for the community, and the fact that I sponsored the film all by myself…may reactions tell me that the film is very specific story but is also holding universal human experiences of persecution and struggles on identity…

I believe that each filmmaker is a unique person with his life encounters and experiences, his personality, dreams and wishes. And they all must be reflected in the film…

Film festivals are important firstly to get recognition for the filmmakers work…to share with other filmmakers and to expose the film to as many viewers as possible…it is especially great to win awards…these days that are various festivals. Online and face to face…for me all have there importance, but I mostly enjoyed festivals in which I participate physically. And was able to get Q&A directly and discuss my film with other filmmakers…and the most specific festivals of my genre – ethnographic film festivals are especially great experience…as I love watching other films and learn from each and every one of them, directly with the filmmaker. Finally, to submit to film festival is a big investment in money…I wish festivals would give much more money awards…certificates are nice but they do not help to struggling filmmakers…

I am already engaged with my Brazilian partner working on a film about the Brazilian Jewish historian who explored the inquisition in Brazil, I have a serious beginning which is very secret to work in West Africa…
I completed recently afilm that I have worked on during 15 years on jews and Judaism in Amazonia…
And I just completed a special film I made with my mother based on her life story and dealing with memories, and loss of memory in old age…