Meet Mahelet Gezachew | Film & TV Development Executive & Creative Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mahelet Gezachew and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mahelet, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
Growing up in Los Angeles as a first-generation Ethiopian-American, I was surrounded by a mix of cultures. My Ethiopian heritage, with its strong cultural and religious values, shaped a lot of my upbringing, while at the same time, I was navigating the social dynamics of American life. And over time, I developed a deep appreciation for my Black identity. This blend of cultures helped shape how I see the world and gave me a real sense of empathy and curiosity about how different identities come together.

Storytelling became my way of exploring these intersections and making sense of things. I was lucky to have parents who encouraged me in the arts. We’d watch everything from Bollywood movies to Spanish novellas, go to theater shows at the Pantages, check out art exhibits featuring Ethiopian artists, and break down the latest pop music—nothing was off-limits. So, when I started getting into my own creative interests, I found myself starting off with a camcorder and Windows Movie Maker to show the world through my eyes. That eventually led to me supporting and amplifying other creatives and their visions too.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Most of my experience is in Film & TV Development, with a background in Marketing Partnerships. As a Producer and Creative Consultant, I’m passionate about taking ideas and turning them into something tangible, helping brands and businesses grow. My approach is community-driven. If someone has an idea, I’m either supporting them directly or connecting them to resources that can elevate their project.

I have a complex relationship with risk—sometimes I embrace it, other times I opt for caution. But calculated risks have been key to my success. I’ve learned to get comfortable with uncertainty, trusting that even failures can redirect me toward better opportunities. Early in my career, I left a stable job that didn’t align with my goals (and I didn’t have a backup plan). However, I relied on faith and savings, determined to work in Film & TV Development. And through a few folks who were willing to champion me, I landed my dream job, which launched my career.

I’ve also learned how Integrity and kindness are central to everything I do. Integrity means staying true to my word, and kindness is about showing empathy. Together, they build trust, the foundation of all my collaborations.

My biggest passion and next endeavor is building creative infrastructure in Ethiopia and across Africa. I see immense potential in local filmmakers despite their limited resources. I’m committed to bridging those gaps by providing access to tools, funding, and platforms to bring Ethiopian and African stories to the world.

This work is my life’s purpose. I aim to empower local talent, create opportunities, and ensure that diverse, authentic stories are told. My long-term goal is to establish labs, grants, and mentorship programs for African filmmakers, fostering global impact through inclusive storytelling.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Gosh! There’s so much to do in LA, is a week even enough time?

For food, I recommend checking out Republique, Quarters KBBQ, Majordomo, Sunday Gravy, Awash, Malibu Farm, Cafe Ysabel, Fia, and Cobi’s. For coffee, swing by Highly Likely, MillCross, Alana’s Coffee Roasters, Sip & Sonder, or Buna Ethiopian Restaurant & Market.

Museums are a must-see too—don’t miss the Academy Museum, LACMA, MOCA, The Broad, and Huntington Library.

For a fun night out, check out Motherland Sounds. And for drinks, head to Lost in DTLA, Bar Flores, or Bar Bohemien.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There’s so many people who’ve been instrumental to my success thus far – I hope I’m not leaving out too many folks. First my mentors – Villy Wang, Cela Sutton, Giovanna Desselle, Janae Desire, Metasebia Yoseph, Meymuna Hussein-Catan, Tsedy Gebreyehu. My supportive parents – Malkamarieam Haile & Gezachew Beyne. My incredible cousins – Daniella Robinson-Asfaw, Yemiserach Robinson, Lydia Zecharia. My sister-friends who have kept me sane – Heywan Gessesse, Sabrina Melles, Feven Ezra, Meron Shifferaw. Just to name a few!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourfriendmaha/

Image Credits
B&W Photo – Ayo Benjamin

Kitfo Film Festival Photos (2) – Adrian Javon