Looking to the future in Running Against The Wind Photo: Yenefasu Felemia
The story of two boys whose destinies diverge as each pursues his passion, Running Against The Wind was Ethiopia’s entry for Best Film not in the English Language at the 2020 Oscars. It’s now out on on Blu-ray in the UK and enjoying a cinematic release in the US. It stems from an idea which German director Jan Philipp Weyl had over a decade ago as a high schooler, when he was invited to Ethiopia by the actor and philanthropist Karlheinz Böhm. When we connected to discuss the film, he explained how it happened.
“I collected more than €23,000, starting from eighth grade, in order to build a school in Ethiopia. Back then, you know, it was a different time. There was no social media yet. It was me and my friend, we we kept on going selling...
The story of two boys whose destinies diverge as each pursues his passion, Running Against The Wind was Ethiopia’s entry for Best Film not in the English Language at the 2020 Oscars. It’s now out on on Blu-ray in the UK and enjoying a cinematic release in the US. It stems from an idea which German director Jan Philipp Weyl had over a decade ago as a high schooler, when he was invited to Ethiopia by the actor and philanthropist Karlheinz Böhm. When we connected to discuss the film, he explained how it happened.
“I collected more than €23,000, starting from eighth grade, in order to build a school in Ethiopia. Back then, you know, it was a different time. There was no social media yet. It was me and my friend, we we kept on going selling...
- 7/20/2021
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Photo: ‘Running Against The Wind' In ‘Running Against The Wind’, childhood best friends Solomon (Mikias Wolde) and Abdi (Ashenafi Nigusu) reunite after years apart. Though it's marketed as a sports drama, the film tries to venture into other genres like action and romance. Wolde and Nigusu are both new actors, their first credits on IMDb are their roles in this movie. This newness brings a level of genuineness to the film that some seasoned actors lose. The film has earnest performances and many moments where the actors shine. In fact, one of the best scenes in the movie is when Solomon and Abdi embrace for the first time in years, they're both awkward after being away from one another for so long, but the scene feels raw, it feels real. Related article: ‘In the Heights’ – Behind the Scenes and Full Commentary/Reactions from Cast & Crew Related article: A Tribute...
- 7/9/2021
- by Jordan Qin
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
Watching this Ethiopian drama is rather like sitting through an assembly when you’re 15 years old. Your buttocks going numb on the hard gymnasium floor as the speaker holds forth about ‘potential’ and the various ‘crossroads’ that we, the year group, are going to encounter. That is because Running Against the Wind is an earnest little morality tale about two young boys and their transition to adulthood – hopes and dreams and all that stuff.
The two boys are Solomon (Mikias Wolde), a recalcitrant troublemaker, and Abdi (Ashenafi Nigusu), a shy and sensible type. Together they live in rural Ethiopia, a harsh place with very little to go around. The boys go separate ways when Solomon steals a camera and flees to Addis Ababa, where he dreams of becoming a photographer. The narrative then shifts through their adolescence and into early adulthood, where we find that Abdi has become a famous...
The two boys are Solomon (Mikias Wolde), a recalcitrant troublemaker, and Abdi (Ashenafi Nigusu), a shy and sensible type. Together they live in rural Ethiopia, a harsh place with very little to go around. The boys go separate ways when Solomon steals a camera and flees to Addis Ababa, where he dreams of becoming a photographer. The narrative then shifts through their adolescence and into early adulthood, where we find that Abdi has become a famous...
- 6/22/2021
- by Jack Hawkins
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
"I want to be a runner! But do I have to ignore my friend in need for the sake of my dream?" A very good question to be ask. Samuel Goldwyn Films has released an official trailer for an indie drama titled Running Against the Wind, made by filmmaker Jan Philipp Weyl. This first premiered at the Amplify Film Festival last year, and is getting a release in the US this year. Set in Ethiopia, two men are running to achieve their dreams. The film follows the stories of two friends: Solomon, who moves to the capital Addis Ababa to become a photographer. And his friend Abdi, who becomes a talented runner and also makes his way to Addis Ababa, where he begins searching for his old friend to find out what happened to him. The film stars Mikias Wolde as Solomon, and Ashenafi Nigusu as Abdi, along with Joseph Reta Belay,...
- 6/3/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Samuel Goldwyn Films Acquires North American Rights To Ethiopian Thriller ‘Running Against The Wind’
Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired North American rights to Jan Philipp Weyl’s debut feature, Running Against the Wind, and is releasing the film on Digital and VOD July 9.
The Ethiopian thriller, starring newcomers Mikias Wolde, Ashenafi Nigusu, and Joseph Reta Belay, centers on two 12-year-old boys who grow up together in a remote village—until a single photograph leads them in different directions, changing their lives forever.
While Solomon (Wolde) heads to the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa to become a photographer, Abdi (Nigusu) remains at home, training to fulfill his dream of being a successful runner Haile Gebrselassie. 10 years later, Abdi is nominated for the Ethiopian National Running Team and moves to Addis Ababa, where he reconnects with his old friend, and the pair are left to compare their quite different stories of success.
The acquisition announcement was made today by Samuel Goldwyn Films’ President, Peter Goldwyn. “Running Against The Wind...
The Ethiopian thriller, starring newcomers Mikias Wolde, Ashenafi Nigusu, and Joseph Reta Belay, centers on two 12-year-old boys who grow up together in a remote village—until a single photograph leads them in different directions, changing their lives forever.
While Solomon (Wolde) heads to the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa to become a photographer, Abdi (Nigusu) remains at home, training to fulfill his dream of being a successful runner Haile Gebrselassie. 10 years later, Abdi is nominated for the Ethiopian National Running Team and moves to Addis Ababa, where he reconnects with his old friend, and the pair are left to compare their quite different stories of success.
The acquisition announcement was made today by Samuel Goldwyn Films’ President, Peter Goldwyn. “Running Against The Wind...
- 6/3/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The decision by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in November to disqualify Genevieve Nnaji’s “Lionheart” from the international feature Oscar race marred an otherwise promising awards season for Africa, which still saw its total number of submissions reach a record-breaking nine. The ensuing controversy brought filmmakers, including Ava DuVernay, into the fray, and prompted the Academy to defend its decision on the grounds that entries must be mostly filmed in a language other than English, Nigeria’s official language.
But the dust-up also served to underscore broader structural challenges for African filmmakers dreaming of Oscar glory. Production across the continent has been steadily rising, with such debutantes as Niger, Malawi and Mozambique recently entering the awards race. Yet most countries lack either the financial resources to mobilize a selection committee — an often expensive proposition — or the political resolve to pursue an award that many perceive as...
But the dust-up also served to underscore broader structural challenges for African filmmakers dreaming of Oscar glory. Production across the continent has been steadily rising, with such debutantes as Niger, Malawi and Mozambique recently entering the awards race. Yet most countries lack either the financial resources to mobilize a selection committee — an often expensive proposition — or the political resolve to pursue an award that many perceive as...
- 12/5/2019
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Earlier in the week, we finally learned which films would be selected by all of the countries in search of Academy Award love in Best International Feature. Not only did we get the answers to some questions regarding what each nation would pick, but we found that a record breaking 93 submissions have been made here in 2019. It’s truly the largest slate ever for voters to sift through. Talk about a good problem to have! Below you can see all of the titles in competition for the Best International Feature Oscar. Right now, only Parasite from South Korea and Pain and Glory from Spain seem like safe bets, with the former almost assured of winning the Academy Award. Aside from them? Anything goes in this category, which has potential nominees like Atlantics from Senegal, Beanpole from Russia, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind from the United Kingdom, The Chambermaid from Mexico,...
- 10/12/2019
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
A record 93 countries submitted entries in the International Feature Film race at the 2020 Oscars. That is up by six from last year,when the category was still called Best Foreign-Language Film, and eclipses the record 92 submissions in 2018. The nations represented ranged from A (Albania) to V (Vietnam). Predicting the eventual five Oscar nominees is made difficult by the two-step process.
First, the several hundred academy members of the Foreign-Language Film screening committee are required to watch a number of the submissions (upwards of a dozen) over a two-month period that ends in mid December. They will rate them from 6 to 10 and their top six vote-getters make it to the next round, as will three films added by the 20 members of the executive committee.
Those nine semi-finalists will be screened three per day beginning in early January by select committee members in Gotham, Hollywood, London and San Francisco. These 40 folks will...
First, the several hundred academy members of the Foreign-Language Film screening committee are required to watch a number of the submissions (upwards of a dozen) over a two-month period that ends in mid December. They will rate them from 6 to 10 and their top six vote-getters make it to the next round, as will three films added by the 20 members of the executive committee.
Those nine semi-finalists will be screened three per day beginning in early January by select committee members in Gotham, Hollywood, London and San Francisco. These 40 folks will...
- 10/7/2019
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Expanded shortlist of 10 films to be announced on December 16.
The Academy on Monday (7) confirmed that 93 countries have submitted films for consideration in the international feature film category for the 92nd Academy Awards.
Ghana, Nigeria and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants with Kwabena Gyansah’s Azali, Genevieve Nnaji’s Lionheart, and Umid Khamdamov’s Hot Bread, respectively.
Earlier this year, the Academy board voted to rename the category formerly known as foreign language film, and expand the shortlist from nine to 10 films.
The shortlist will be announced on December 16. Nominations for the 92nd Oscars will be unveiled on January 13, 2020, and the Oscars...
The Academy on Monday (7) confirmed that 93 countries have submitted films for consideration in the international feature film category for the 92nd Academy Awards.
Ghana, Nigeria and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants with Kwabena Gyansah’s Azali, Genevieve Nnaji’s Lionheart, and Umid Khamdamov’s Hot Bread, respectively.
Earlier this year, the Academy board voted to rename the category formerly known as foreign language film, and expand the shortlist from nine to 10 films.
The shortlist will be announced on December 16. Nominations for the 92nd Oscars will be unveiled on January 13, 2020, and the Oscars...
- 10/7/2019
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
A record-breaking total of 93 countries have submitted entries to be considered for best international film nominations at the Academy Awards.
The Academy announced the full list of eligible films and countries on Monday. Ghana, Nigeria and Uzbekisztan are competing for the first time in the category, which was previously known as the best foreign-language film category.
The previous high for submissions was 92 in 2017. A total of 87 films were submitted last year. Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma” won the category this year, becoming the first Mexican entry to win the award.
High-profile entries include South Korea’s “Parasite,” Bong Joon Ho’s black comedy which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival; Spain’s “Pain and Glory” from Pedro Almodovar with Antonio Banderas starring as a film director; Japan’s “Weathering With You,” the country’s first animated entry since “Princess Mononoke”; Senegal’s “Atlantics” from director Mati Diop,...
The Academy announced the full list of eligible films and countries on Monday. Ghana, Nigeria and Uzbekisztan are competing for the first time in the category, which was previously known as the best foreign-language film category.
The previous high for submissions was 92 in 2017. A total of 87 films were submitted last year. Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma” won the category this year, becoming the first Mexican entry to win the award.
High-profile entries include South Korea’s “Parasite,” Bong Joon Ho’s black comedy which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival; Spain’s “Pain and Glory” from Pedro Almodovar with Antonio Banderas starring as a film director; Japan’s “Weathering With You,” the country’s first animated entry since “Princess Mononoke”; Senegal’s “Atlantics” from director Mati Diop,...
- 10/7/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
The 2020 foreign-language Oscar nominees will come from submissions from 93 countries, up from last year’s 87, and breaking the record 92 from 2017. A contender for the renamed Best International Feature must be a feature-length motion picture (more than 40 minutes) produced outside the United States with a predominantly non-English dialogue track.
Ghana, Nigeria, and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants, but Uganda did not qualify. China (Yu Yang’s “Ne Zha”) and Senegal (Mati Diop’s “Atlantics”) submitted their films under the wire on the deadline of October 1.
Earlier this year, the Academy’s Board of Governors voted not only to rename the Foreign Language Film category, but to expand the shortlist from nine films to 10.
The 2019 submissions, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Albania, “The Delegation,” Bujar Alimani, director;
Algeria, “Papicha,” Mounia Meddour, director;
Argentina, “Heroic Losers,” Sebastián Borensztein, director;
Armenia, “Lengthy Night,” Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;
Australia, “Buoyancy,” Rodd Rathjen, director;
Austria, “Joy,...
Ghana, Nigeria, and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants, but Uganda did not qualify. China (Yu Yang’s “Ne Zha”) and Senegal (Mati Diop’s “Atlantics”) submitted their films under the wire on the deadline of October 1.
Earlier this year, the Academy’s Board of Governors voted not only to rename the Foreign Language Film category, but to expand the shortlist from nine films to 10.
The 2019 submissions, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Albania, “The Delegation,” Bujar Alimani, director;
Algeria, “Papicha,” Mounia Meddour, director;
Argentina, “Heroic Losers,” Sebastián Borensztein, director;
Armenia, “Lengthy Night,” Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;
Australia, “Buoyancy,” Rodd Rathjen, director;
Austria, “Joy,...
- 10/7/2019
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The 2020 foreign-language Oscar nominees will come from submissions from 93 countries, up from last year’s 87, and breaking the record 92 from 2017. A contender for the renamed Best International Feature must be a feature-length motion picture (more than 40 minutes) produced outside the United States with a predominantly non-English dialogue track.
Ghana, Nigeria, and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants, but Uganda did not qualify. China (Yu Yang’s “Ne Zha”) and Senegal (Mati Diop’s “Atlantics”) submitted their films under the wire on the deadline of October 1.
Earlier this year, the Academy’s Board of Governors voted not only to rename the Foreign Language Film category, but to expand the shortlist from nine films to 10.
The 2019 submissions, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Albania, “The Delegation,” Bujar Alimani, director;
Algeria, “Papicha,” Mounia Meddour, director;
Argentina, “Heroic Losers,” Sebastián Borensztein, director;
Armenia, “Lengthy Night,” Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;
Australia, “Buoyancy,” Rodd Rathjen, director;
Austria, “Joy,...
Ghana, Nigeria, and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants, but Uganda did not qualify. China (Yu Yang’s “Ne Zha”) and Senegal (Mati Diop’s “Atlantics”) submitted their films under the wire on the deadline of October 1.
Earlier this year, the Academy’s Board of Governors voted not only to rename the Foreign Language Film category, but to expand the shortlist from nine films to 10.
The 2019 submissions, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Albania, “The Delegation,” Bujar Alimani, director;
Algeria, “Papicha,” Mounia Meddour, director;
Argentina, “Heroic Losers,” Sebastián Borensztein, director;
Armenia, “Lengthy Night,” Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;
Australia, “Buoyancy,” Rodd Rathjen, director;
Austria, “Joy,...
- 10/7/2019
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released the full list of countries that have submitted a pic for consideration for the new International Feature Film Oscar category.
Here are the 93 nations and their hopefuls, in alphabetical order:
Albania, The Delegation, Bujar Alimani, director;
Algeria, Papicha, Mounia Meddour, director;
Argentina, Heroic Losers, Sebastián Borensztein, director;
Armenia, Lengthy Night, Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;
Australia, Buoyancy, Rodd Rathjen, director;
Austria, Joy, Sudabeh Mortezai, director;
Bangladesh, Alpha, Nasiruddin Yousuff, director;
Belarus, Debut, Anastasiya Miroshnichenko, director;
Belgium, Our Mothers, César Díaz, director;
Bolivia, I Miss You, Rodrigo Bellott, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Son, Ines Tanovic, director;
Brazil, Invisible Life, Karim Aïnouz, director;
Bulgaria, Ága, Milko Lazarov, director;
Cambodia, In the Life of Music, Caylee So, Sok Visal, directors;
Canada, Antigone, Sophie Deraspe, director;
Chile, Spider, Andrés Wood, director;
China, Ne Zha, Yu Yang, director;
Colombia, Monos, Alejandro Landes, director;
Costa Rica, The Awakening of the Ants,...
Here are the 93 nations and their hopefuls, in alphabetical order:
Albania, The Delegation, Bujar Alimani, director;
Algeria, Papicha, Mounia Meddour, director;
Argentina, Heroic Losers, Sebastián Borensztein, director;
Armenia, Lengthy Night, Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;
Australia, Buoyancy, Rodd Rathjen, director;
Austria, Joy, Sudabeh Mortezai, director;
Bangladesh, Alpha, Nasiruddin Yousuff, director;
Belarus, Debut, Anastasiya Miroshnichenko, director;
Belgium, Our Mothers, César Díaz, director;
Bolivia, I Miss You, Rodrigo Bellott, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Son, Ines Tanovic, director;
Brazil, Invisible Life, Karim Aïnouz, director;
Bulgaria, Ága, Milko Lazarov, director;
Cambodia, In the Life of Music, Caylee So, Sok Visal, directors;
Canada, Antigone, Sophie Deraspe, director;
Chile, Spider, Andrés Wood, director;
China, Ne Zha, Yu Yang, director;
Colombia, Monos, Alejandro Landes, director;
Costa Rica, The Awakening of the Ants,...
- 10/7/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Films about young Africans trying to fulfill their dreams in the face of war, poverty, tradition and other forms of adversity have been submitted for Oscar consideration by three East African nations.
The selections by Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda to compete in the international feature film category reflect the relative youth of filmmaking in the region, which has never received an Academy Award nomination.
Ethiopia has chosen Jan Philipp Weyl’s “Running Against the Wind,” the story of two brothers whose lives take very different paths when they decide to follow their dreams – one to become an Olympic runner, the other a photographer. It features a cameo by gold medal-winning distance runner Haile Gebrselassie.
Shot in Ethiopia’s native language, Amharic, which Weyl speaks, the movie is an Ethiopian-German Co-Production produced by Negarit Film Academy & Productions and AC Independent Film in association with R&b Film. It’s Ethiopia’s...
The selections by Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda to compete in the international feature film category reflect the relative youth of filmmaking in the region, which has never received an Academy Award nomination.
Ethiopia has chosen Jan Philipp Weyl’s “Running Against the Wind,” the story of two brothers whose lives take very different paths when they decide to follow their dreams – one to become an Olympic runner, the other a photographer. It features a cameo by gold medal-winning distance runner Haile Gebrselassie.
Shot in Ethiopia’s native language, Amharic, which Weyl speaks, the movie is an Ethiopian-German Co-Production produced by Negarit Film Academy & Productions and AC Independent Film in association with R&b Film. It’s Ethiopia’s...
- 9/17/2019
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Ethiopia has selected Jan Philipp Weyl's Running Against the Wind as its submission for the best international feature film category at the 2020 Oscars.
The story of two brothers whose lives take very different paths, the film is only the fourth time that Ethiopia has entered the Oscar race.
Described as "a love letter to Ethiopia," the movie is the first film ever submitted to the Academy Awards with the backing of Ethiopia's Ministry of Culture and Tourism; previous entries were the sole responsibility of individual producers and directors working in the country's struggling movie ...
The story of two brothers whose lives take very different paths, the film is only the fourth time that Ethiopia has entered the Oscar race.
Described as "a love letter to Ethiopia," the movie is the first film ever submitted to the Academy Awards with the backing of Ethiopia's Ministry of Culture and Tourism; previous entries were the sole responsibility of individual producers and directors working in the country's struggling movie ...
- 9/16/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Ethiopia has selected Jan Philipp Weyl's Running Against the Wind as its submission for the best international feature film category at the 2020 Oscars.
The story of two brothers whose lives take very different paths, the film is only the fourth time that Ethiopia has entered the Oscar race.
Described as "a love letter to Ethiopia," the movie is the first film ever submitted to the Academy Awards with the backing of Ethiopia's Ministry of Culture and Tourism; previous entries were the sole responsibility of individual producers and directors working in the country's struggling movie ...
The story of two brothers whose lives take very different paths, the film is only the fourth time that Ethiopia has entered the Oscar race.
Described as "a love letter to Ethiopia," the movie is the first film ever submitted to the Academy Awards with the backing of Ethiopia's Ministry of Culture and Tourism; previous entries were the sole responsibility of individual producers and directors working in the country's struggling movie ...
- 9/16/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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