Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — The documentary Made in Ethiopia has been nominated for an Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Business and Economic Documentary, marking a major milestone for a film that places Ethiopia at the center of one of the most consequential economic transformations of the 21st century.
Directed by Xinyan Yu and Max Duncan, with Tamara Mariam Dawit as a key creative collaborator, the film was featured in the 38th season of PBS’s documentary series POV — a platform widely recognized for elevating globally significant, character-driven storytelling.
Beyond Infrastructure: A Human Story of Industrialization
At its core, Made in Ethiopia examines the human realities behind China’s expanding industrial and financial presence across Africa. Rather than focusing solely on macroeconomic statistics or geopolitical narratives, the documentary narrows its lens to the lived experiences of three Ethiopian women navigating the promises and pressures of rapid industrialization.
Set against the backdrop of a large Chinese-run industrial park, the film captures how development, employment, displacement, and ambition intersect in everyday life. It highlights the tension between opportunity and vulnerability, offering a grounded understanding of how global investment reshapes local communities.
By centering individual stories, the documentary provides a more nuanced perspective on industrialization — one that foregrounds human agency, gender dynamics, and the uneven distribution of benefits and burdens.
A Four-Year Journey to Global Recognition
The Emmy nomination comes after four years of production, reflecting what the filmmakers describe as a labor of love. The recognition signals growing global interest in African economic stories told through lived experience rather than abstract metrics.
The production brought together a diverse international team alongside Ethiopian creative leadership. Among the executive producers are Anna Godas, Oli Harbottle, Mehret Mandefro, Susan Jakes, and Roger Graef, underscoring the breadth of collaboration behind the project.
The film also credits field producers Sura Abera Amayu and Goush Girmay Fissehatsion, whose work helped ground the story in Ethiopian realities.
Editorial contributions were led by Biel Andrés, Jeppe Bødskov, and Siyi Chen, with Wenjing Zhang serving as associate editor. Assistant editors include Julie Trillo, Marta Nebot, Ruolin Xu Luyo, and Jiuxin Zhu.
The film’s original score was composed by Ali Helnwein, while color grading was handled by Juan Hernando. Sound design was led by Steve Miller, with sound editing by Anqi He. Post-production was carried out by Elamedia Studios and Milciclos, with post supervision by Yamila Fernández Colman.
Global Collaboration and Institutional Support
The documentary was co-produced with Gobez Media and Dogwoof, reflecting a strong partnership between local and international production houses.
It received support from a wide network of global institutions, including the Ford Foundation, Danish Film Institute, International Documentary Association, Firelight Media, InMaat Foundation, SFFILM, Brown Girls Doc Mafia, New America, EIDF, The StoryBoard Collective, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, The Video Consortium, The Gotham Film & Media Institute, Logan Nonfiction Program, Yaddo, and the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam.
These collaborations highlight the increasingly transnational nature of documentary filmmaking and the role of global partnerships in bringing African stories to international audiences.
Reframing Ethiopia’s Economic Narrative
For Ethiopia, the nomination represents more than a cinematic achievement. It reflects a broader shift in how the country’s development story is being told — moving beyond abstract narratives of growth toward lived experiences.
As Ethiopia continues to pursue industrialization amid economic reform, foreign investment debates, and structural challenges, Made in Ethiopia offers a timely reminder: economic transformation is not only measured in output and infrastructure, but in its impact on people’s lives.
By centering women’s voices, the documentary also challenges gender-blind economic narratives, emphasizing how industrialization affects individuals differently depending on their social position.
Global Stage, Local Realities
The Emmy nomination places Made in Ethiopia among globally recognized documentary works, amplifying a story that is both deeply local and internationally relevant.
For Ethiopian audiences, it offers a rare reflection of the country’s transformation through an intimate and human lens. For global viewers, it provides insight into Africa’s evolving role within global production systems.
Ultimately, the recognition signals that stories rooted in Ethiopia’s realities — when told with depth, nuance, and authenticity — can resonate far beyond national borders.
