Henok Legesse

Born and raised in Addis Ababa, Henok Legesse developed a passion for cinema despite not having access to traditional movie theaters during his childhood. In his early teens, he discovered makeshift venues where movies were screened using VHS players, sparking a lifelong fascination with the immersive power of storytelling. This love for film led him to explore the depth of human emotions and narratives through the art of cinema. After graduating high school, Henok embarked on his journey to explore the craft of filmmaking, enrolling at the Blue Nile Film and Television Academy. The academy provided him with access to a wealth of international films and developed his skills, specializing in film editing. This experience shaped his artistic perspective and laid the foundation for his future endeavors. As an editor, Henok has contributed to several projects. In 2015, he edited New Eyes, a short fiction film that was screened at the Venice International Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). He later edited Katanga Nation, a short documentary that premiered at Visions du Réel (2022), screened at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), and won the Silver Foal for Best Short Documentary at FESPACO in 2023. Henok Legesse Birhanu is an editor and a writer/director. New Eyes, a short fiction film he edited, screened at the Venice International Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival. He edited Katanga Nation, a short documentary that premiered at Visions du Réel (2022), screened at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), and won the Silver Foal for Best Short Documentary at FESPACO in 2023. He also produced and edited the TV series Gira Kegn, which aired on Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC). In 2025, he was a director on the M-Net anthology series Addis Fikir.