Daniel Taye Workou

Daniel Taye Workou

Biography

Daniel Taye Workou was born to Ethiopian parents in Berlin in 1969. He studied international relations and worked for several NGOs before he went on to study film at Columbia University in New York. He made documentaries, music videos and concert recordings alongside his studies. He is co-founder of the production company "BiraBiro Film" which is based in Addis Ababa.
Daniel Taye Workou’s first full-length feature was about a group of children from a remote rural part of Ethiopia who move to the capital Addis Ababa and have to try to survive there. The film`s plot is based on the real-life experiences of Bewketu Belete, the actor playing the boy in the short film "Menged". Daniel Taye Workou had the following to say about taking a "mixed German-Ethiopian crew" to his parents’ homeland to shoot the film: "It was a special experience for everyone involved, because two worlds came together in the making of a film. The European pros were more skilled especially when it came to the technical aspects of filmmaking. But the Ethiopian crew, despite having less experience, were all the more motivated because of this and they not only introduced the Europeans to the wonderful culture and way of life in their country, but also taught them about the role cinema plays in Ethiopia."

Filmography

Menged (2006): Direction