How do you build an entire creative ecosystem? And what does it take to empower storytellers at scale?
In this episode, Alex speaks with Emmy-nominated producer, writer, doctor and serial entrepreneur Mehret Mandefro, a visionary voice at the intersection of storytelling, healing and creative innovation. As co-founder and MD of Realness Institute, Mehret has spent years strengthening Africa’s media landscape through training, mentorship and systemic infrastructure-building.
She shares her remarkable journey from medicine to media, the origins of her “audiovisual medicine” artistic practice, and the powerful lessons learned from pioneering television in Ethiopia and developing talent across the continent.
In a wide ranging conversation, Mehret also dives into:
• Why creative infrastructure is the missing piece in global storytelling
• How Realness Institute nurtures and de-risks new creative voices
• The urgent need for producers to think like entrepreneurs
• The role of technology and AI in elevating human stories
• Why Africa is central to the future of film
This is a conversation about creativity, systems change and the responsibility we all share in shaping the future of screen storytelling.
About Mehret Mandefro
Mehret Mandefro is an Emmy-nominated producer, writer, and entrepreneur working at the intersection of culture, commerce, and social impact. A former physician turned storyteller, she has dedicated her career to transforming how stories are made—and who gets to tell them. Born in Ethiopia and raised in America, Mehret is a transnational force in global media who has built several groundbreaking enterprises, including Truth Aid Media in New York, Kana TV in Addis Ababa, and the Realness Institute in Cape Town, a nonprofit dedicated to training and mentoring writers, producers, and directors across Africa and the diaspora. Her award-winning film and television work bridges documentary and fiction, revealing hidden truths across the human experience. Her credits include How It Feels to Be Free (American Masters), Sweetness in the Belly (Amazon), Difret (Netflix), The Cost of Inheritance (PBS), Little White Lie (PBS), and Ethiopia’s first teen drama, Yegna. Recognized on Variety’s list of the most impactful women in global entertainment, Mehret is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and is currently building the African Film and Media Arts Collective with artist Julie Mehretu with the support of BMW. Mehret has a BA in Anthropology from Harvard University, an MD from Harvard Medical School, a MSc in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as a Fulbright Scholar, and a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from Temple University.
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How do you build an entire creative ecosystem? And what does it take to empower storytellers at scale?
In this episode, Alex speaks with Emmy-nominated producer, writer, doctor and serial entrepreneur Mehret Mandefro, a visionary voice at the intersection of storytelling, healing and creative innovation. As co-founder and MD of Realness Institute, Mehret has spent years strengthening Africa’s media landscape through training, mentorship and systemic infrastructure-building.
She shares her remarkable journey from medicine to media, the origins of her “audiovisual medicine” artistic practice, and the powerful lessons learned from pioneering television in Ethiopia and developing talent across the continent.
In a wide ranging conversation, Mehret also dives into:
• Why creative infrastructure is the missing piece in global storytelling
• How Realness Institute nurtures and de-risks new creative voices
• The urgent need for producers to think like entrepreneurs
• The role of technology and AI in elevating human stories
• Why Africa is central to the future of film
This is a conversation about creativity, systems change and the responsibility we all share in shaping the future of screen storytelling.
About Mehret Mandefro
Mehret Mandefro is an Emmy-nominated producer, writer, and entrepreneur working at the intersection of culture, commerce, and social impact. A former physician turned storyteller, she has dedicated her career to transforming how stories are made—and who gets to tell them. Born in Ethiopia and raised in America, Mehret is a transnational force in global media who has built several groundbreaking enterprises, including Truth Aid Media in New York, Kana TV in Addis Ababa, and the Realness Institute in Cape Town, a nonprofit dedicated to training and mentoring writers, producers, and directors across Africa and the diaspora. Her award-winning film and television work bridges documentary and fiction, revealing hidden truths across the human experience. Her credits include How It Feels to Be Free (American Masters), Sweetness in the Belly (Amazon), Difret (Netflix), The Cost of Inheritance (PBS), Little White Lie (PBS), and Ethiopia’s first teen drama, Yegna. Recognized on Variety’s list of the most impactful women in global entertainment, Mehret is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and is currently building the African Film and Media Arts Collective with artist Julie Mehretu with the support of BMW. Mehret has a BA in Anthropology from Harvard University, an MD from Harvard Medical School, a MSc in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as a Fulbright Scholar, and a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from Temple University.
85. Sarudzayi Marufu: Hustle & Creativity: Strategies for Independent Storytelling
Future of Film Podcast
1 hour 2 minutes 14 seconds
9 months ago
85. Sarudzayi Marufu: Hustle & Creativity: Strategies for Independent Storytelling
In this episode of the Future of Film podcast, host Alex Stolz speaks with Sarudzayi Marufu, founder of Uras Films, about the challenges and opportunities facing filmmakers today, particularly in the African market. They discuss the importance of understanding audience engagement, innovative approaches to crowdfunding, and the intersection of creativity and business. Sarudzayi emphasises the need for infrastructure and support for African filmmakers, highlighting the potential of the continent's creative resources. The conversation also touches on the importance of building a brand and cultivating a loyal audience. In this conversation, Sarudzayi shares insights on the filmmaking process, emphasizing the importance of leveraging personal privilege, understanding financial realities, and learning from experiences. She discusses the significance of marketing and distribution strategies, particularly in the context of independent films and African cinema - encouraging filmmakers to be audacious, share their ideas, and navigate the challenges of distribution while maintaining ownership and integrity. She highlights the need for an entrepreneurial mindset in filmmaking, advocating for a balance between creativity and business acumen.
About Sarudzayi Marufu
Sarudzayi Marufu is founder and executive producer of the production company Euras Films with a mission to tell bold, unafraid & innovative storytelling & authentic representation. She founded Euras with the mission of increasing representation for underprivileged communities and providing them with the resources to take bold creative risks. Since its inception in 2019, the studio has produced a range of short and feature-length films, the latest of which, All the Wives in Attics, has been selected for several awards at leading film festivals.
Prior to Euras Films, Sarue was executive producer at Beyond the Canon, an organisation that aims to diversify the curricula at globally leading drama schools and theaters. Beyond the Canon taps into forgotten masterpieces by culturally diverse playwrights and brings them to national audiences.
Previously, she founded Exodus Healthcare, a firm that supports patients living independently in their own homes. She applies her business expertise from scaling Exodus to her work in the film industry, helping underprivileged filmmakers navigate the business of producing films.
Future of Film Podcast
How do you build an entire creative ecosystem? And what does it take to empower storytellers at scale?
In this episode, Alex speaks with Emmy-nominated producer, writer, doctor and serial entrepreneur Mehret Mandefro, a visionary voice at the intersection of storytelling, healing and creative innovation. As co-founder and MD of Realness Institute, Mehret has spent years strengthening Africa’s media landscape through training, mentorship and systemic infrastructure-building.
She shares her remarkable journey from medicine to media, the origins of her “audiovisual medicine” artistic practice, and the powerful lessons learned from pioneering television in Ethiopia and developing talent across the continent.
In a wide ranging conversation, Mehret also dives into:
• Why creative infrastructure is the missing piece in global storytelling
• How Realness Institute nurtures and de-risks new creative voices
• The urgent need for producers to think like entrepreneurs
• The role of technology and AI in elevating human stories
• Why Africa is central to the future of film
This is a conversation about creativity, systems change and the responsibility we all share in shaping the future of screen storytelling.
About Mehret Mandefro
Mehret Mandefro is an Emmy-nominated producer, writer, and entrepreneur working at the intersection of culture, commerce, and social impact. A former physician turned storyteller, she has dedicated her career to transforming how stories are made—and who gets to tell them. Born in Ethiopia and raised in America, Mehret is a transnational force in global media who has built several groundbreaking enterprises, including Truth Aid Media in New York, Kana TV in Addis Ababa, and the Realness Institute in Cape Town, a nonprofit dedicated to training and mentoring writers, producers, and directors across Africa and the diaspora. Her award-winning film and television work bridges documentary and fiction, revealing hidden truths across the human experience. Her credits include How It Feels to Be Free (American Masters), Sweetness in the Belly (Amazon), Difret (Netflix), The Cost of Inheritance (PBS), Little White Lie (PBS), and Ethiopia’s first teen drama, Yegna. Recognized on Variety’s list of the most impactful women in global entertainment, Mehret is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and is currently building the African Film and Media Arts Collective with artist Julie Mehretu with the support of BMW. Mehret has a BA in Anthropology from Harvard University, an MD from Harvard Medical School, a MSc in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as a Fulbright Scholar, and a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from Temple University.
