Addis Video Art Festival - An Independent Platform Connecting Artists Across Borders

Founded in 2014 by its initiator artist and educator Ezra Wube and artist and poet Mihret Kebede, the Addis Video Art Festival (AVAF) held its first edition in 2015. Since then, it has connected Ethiopian artists and audiences with the international art community, creating opportunities for experimental moving-image practices to be seen, shared, and discussed.

The festival is organized by an international team of artists and curators, including Ezra Wube, Mihret Kebede, Helen Zeru, Betelhem Makonnen, Kibrom Gebremedhin, Hagere Selam Zegeye-Gebrehiwot, Ng’endo Mukii, Chiara Cartuccia, and Dagrun Adalsteinsdottir.

Through screenings in museums, cultural centres, rooftops, street corners, and public spaces, AVAF brings video art beyond conventional gallery settings. It also offers workshops for art students and creatives, alongside artist talks, discussions, and performances featuring local and international guests. Long-term collaborations with the Modern Art Museum, Gebrekirstos Desta Center, Emuye’s Majet Kitchen and Alle School of Fine Arts and Design at Addis Ababa University have been central to this work.

For nearly twelve years, the Addis Video Art Festival has brought artists, ideas, and audiences together across borders, achieving this almost entirely without financial support. What has made this possible is the team dedication, the generosity of cultural institutions and museums in Addis Ababa, and in-kind collaborations that have kept the festival alive. Sincere appreciation also goes to Studio Olafur Eliasson for supporting travel grants for an organizing team member during our previous editions.

Since its founding, AVAF has received approximately 3,000 submissions from 85 countries and facilitated international exchanges through collaborations with festivals and cultural organizations worldwide. For its upcoming edition, the festival received 670 submissions from 72 countries, from which no more than 20 artists will be selected.

Cultural institutions, museums, sponsors, and partners are invited to join in expanding opportunities for artists, supporting experimental art, and strengthening international cultural exchange from Addis Ababa. Dedication alone cannot secure the future of an international festival. To continue creating opportunities for artists, reaching new audiences, and building meaningful cultural exchange, committed funding partners who share our vision and believe that independent art platforms deserve to thrive are needed.

Honouring Betelhem Makonnen

The recent loss of our dear colleague, a team member, renowned and extraordinary artist Betelhem Makonnen has left a profound void in our community. For twelve years, her generosity, creativity, and commitment helped shape the festival. In her honour, we are establishing the Betelhem Makonnen Award, to be presented at every edition of AVAF. The award will recognize artists whose work and approach reflect the values she embodied: generosity, openness, commitment, and belief in the power of artistic ideas. Through this award, Betelhem’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations of artists.

Visit our website to view previous editions and more: https://www.addisvideoartfestival.net