The 13th international film festival also known as EARTHOPIA officially opened on December 24, 2018. It was hosted for the second time by Betelhem Taye. The audience included distinguished guests, film professionals, government officials, and local and international media representatives all enjoying films at the newly opened multi-functional Vamdas Cinema. This festival will continue until December 31, 2018 at the Russian Cultural Institute and the National Theater.
The objective of the festival is to encourage young film makers by recognizing them at the local and international level, and to discuss emerging issues in film. The festival will feature a presentation of the grand award (Ethiopian Oscar) for the best Ethiopian film.
The program was opened by a photograph ceremony; followed by a speech from the festival director Yirgashewa Teshome. His co-worker/the host of the festival Betelhem Taye introduced the first adventurous romantic movie as well as new local films available in the current market such as: Yenaseferlegoch, Letmetanew, Zemene, Bezakeremt, Ende Bale Enamist, Titian and others.
Afterwards a movie named Sweet Poisons (tafach merzoch) directed by Moges Wossen was shown to rave reviews and the evening was wrapped up with a cocktail dinner party in the upscale lobby of the building.