In connection with International Women’s Day 2026, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is hosting a special film festival centered on the theme of dignity.
The event, titled “Kibir” (ክብር)—meaning honor or dignity—is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Video Bet Cinema, located next to the Red Terror Martyrs’ Memorial Museum near Meskel Square.
Organizers say the festival aims to highlight human dignity as a cornerstone for advancing women’s rights, agency, and freedom of choice in all areas of life. The theme aligns with this year’s global International Women’s Day call to action: “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.”
The evening will feature screenings of two acclaimed Ethiopian films, although the titles have not yet been disclosed by organizers. According to UNFPA, the selected works focus on local stories that explore themes of respect, empowerment, and the pursuit of justice.
The event is expected to attract a high-profile audience, including ambassadors, senior government officials, development partners, and representatives from the diplomatic community. Officials from UNFPA will attend alongside filmmakers and creative teams involved in the featured productions.
The festival is hosted at Video Bet, a recently established independent cinema that has quickly gained attention in Addis Ababa’s cultural scene. The venue focuses on showcasing internationally recognized and artistically driven films that often fall outside mainstream commercial cinema programming.
Video Bet was launched in early 2025 by filmmaker Beza Hailu and film critic Bandamlak Yimenu, who initially began organizing bi-monthly curated screenings at a local multiplex before establishing the dedicated venue.
Over the past year, the cinema has hosted a range of curated screenings highlighting Ethiopian and international independent films. Among its early highlights was the Ethiopian premiere of Alazar (2024), a short film by Beza Hailu that debuted at the Cannes Film Festival and served as Video Bet’s inaugural screening.
The venue has also organized special homecoming screenings for acclaimed Ethiopian documentaries including Faya Dayi (2021) by Jessica Beshir and Finding Sally (2020) by Tamara Mariam Dawit.
By hosting the “Kibir” festival, organizers say they hope to combine film and public dialogue to highlight the importance of dignity and rights for women and girls in Ethiopia and beyond.
