ARMENIAN ETHIOPIAN JAZZ FILM TEZETA ትዝታ TO PREMIERE IN SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE THIS AUGUST
The Armenian Film Festival Australia (AFFA) proudly announces its 9th edition, once again bringing the best of Armenian culture to Australian audiences. This year, Armenians in music around the world is a key theme, as can be seen with the Australian Premiere of Armenian Ethiopian film TEZETA ትዝታ.
Filmed in Ethiopia, Armenia and Austria, TEZETA tells the story of a small, stateless community of Armenians and their contribution to the Ethiopian musical culture in Addis Ababa’s old city centre of Piassa. Beginning with the unexpected royal adoption of 40 Armenian orphans (Arba Lijoch “Forty Children”) in Jerusalem by Emperor Haile Selassie in 1924 and their role as the first Ethiopian imperial band.
TEZETA reveals a uniquely Ethiopian musical story that was once lost to memory, told through first-hand accounts with music researcher Francis Falceto, the film features Ethiopian jazz greats Alemayehu Eshete, Mulatu Astatke, Girum Mezmur, Sammy Yirga as well as Vahé Tilbian, the only performing Ethiopian-Armenian singer in Addis Ababa today.
The film contains one of the last interviews with singer Alemayehu Eshete, music producer Ameha Eshete, director Abate Mekurya and one of the last performances of mandolinist Ayele Mamo, TEZETA opens a door to a melodic light of memories to a bustling jazz club now gone, a beloved teacher who was the “godfather of Ethiopian modern music”, and a golden musical era forgotten by many.
TEZETA received the ‘Audience Choice Award’ at the Addis International Film Festival Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2024.
Festival founders and Directors Hourie Demirjian and Margaret Chater said “we are delighted to have so many impactful and entertaining films to offer this year, we welcome the Ethiopian community to come and see TEZETA, experience Armenian culture with us and enjoy this rare glimpse into our shared history“.
TEZETA will be screening in Sydney and Melbourne;
- SYDNEY: Sunday 17 August, 2:30pm, Event Cinemas Top Ryde
- MELBOURNE: Sunday 31 August, 3:30pm, Lido Cinemas Hawthorn
Language: Amharic, Armenian, English
Watch trailer and buy tickets here; https://armenianfilmfestival.com.au/tezeta/
TEZETA is one of the many impressive films screening at the 2025 Armenian Film Festival Australia. Other highlights include Monsieur Aznavour, an epic portrait of French Armenian legend Charles Aznavour, an unmissable journey into the life of an artist, an immortal singer-songwriter and one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Cup of Salvation, a film covering over 6000 years of winemaking history across both Armenia and Iran. Reverse Side of the Medal, an inspirational journey of a female weightlifter, exploring themes of determination, strength and breaking barriers in sport. Plus comedies Master of Destiny and Rosali, films for families and so much more.
For the full festival programme and to purchase tickets, visit www.armenianfilmfestival.com.au. All films feature English subtitles.
