LIFE AND DRAMA IN THE DC METRO

Film Conveys a Coming of Age Story about Young Diaspora in America

Washington, D.C. – February 8, 2009 -   Zanta Media releases “Habesha Life,” a web based episodic series that explores the lives of young East Africans coming of age in the Washington, D.C. metro area.   The series will be available free for viewing at the website www.habeshalife.com beginning February 15, 2009.

When the series’ creator, writer and director Ambessa Jir Berhe came to Washington D.C. to study film at Howard University, little did he know that his camera would be pointed inwards at the life he and others lived in a house on Harvard St. Northwest, D.C.   The house, and its various inhabitants over the course of three years, inspired the director to create a film that looked at human issues faced by young adults who happen to be of Eritrean and Ethiopian heritage (otherwise known as Habesha or Abesha in broad terms). 

The series explores these young adults “dreams, existence, freedom, womanhood, manhood, love, relationships, human relations and interactions, family, the Self, experimenting, living together…”  Shot mainly in the summer and fall of 2008, the drama enlists many first time actors as well as area artists such as Kilenm, Eden Tecle Agustino, Robel Kasa, Yeneneh Ketema, Lula Gebersilassie, Binahkaye Joy, Behailu Zerihun, and Juliane Maxim.  The film also uses popular DC backdrops like the U Street corridor and Georgia Avenue. 

The series will be presented in 8 to 13 minutes shorts released direct to web, with multilingual captions, and space for viewer comments. 

A special screening and launch party will be held at Jin(2017 14^th Street NW Washington DC, Phone: 202-332-2104) on Thursday, February 12, 2009, prior to the official online release. 

Zanta Media is a film company based in Washington, D.C.

If you’d like more information about the web series, or to schedule an interview with Ambessa Jir Berhe, please contact Rahel Getachew at 703/894-8945 or email Habesha Life at habeshalife@gmail.com.