Goitom Weldu, a young Tigrayan filmmaker, recently received international recognition as the winner of the 2024 JCS International Young Creatives Award. This prestigious award, presented by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, celebrates young filmmakers around the world who create impactful stories centered on peace. Each year, the award encourages participants to create a one-minute film that brings attention to global issues. Goitom’s submission, “A Refugee’s Plea for Peace,” captured the hearts of the judges with its sharp portrayal of children displaced by the war on Tigray.
Goitom’s journey into filmmaking wasn’t conventional. Starting out by creating music videos, he slowly gravitated toward storytelling through film, believing it could convey deeper, more powerful messages.
His inspiration struck as he listened to a radio program, covering stories about internally displaced people (IDPs) in Tigray. “I always listen to the radio,” he reflects when he joined us on Thursday. Read more