Begins streaming January 14, 2026 for free on CBC Gem,
as part of CBC’s The Passionate Eye
As China’s global ambitions collide with Ethiopia’s fight for a better future, MADE IN ETHIOPIA transforms a geopolitical headline into an unforgettable human story. Gobez Media, Dogwoof and Hard Truth Films present an unflinching documentary from Xinyan Yu and Max Duncan, that should not be missed.
This feature doc makes its streaming premiere on CBC Gem following an exceptional international festival run that includes a Special Jury Mention from the Tribeca Festival, a Best International Feature Award from Canada’s Planet in Focus International Environmental Film Festival, accolades from the Warsaw International Film Festival, and official selections at Sheffield DocFest, Encounters South Africa, and the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival.
At the centre of MADE IN ETHIOPIA is Motto, the formidable Chinese director of the sprawling Eastern Industry Park, who is under mounting pressure to push through an ambitious expansion that promises 30,000 new jobs. Her success depends on both her own resolve and the willingness of the surrounding community to embrace radical change. Among those closest to the impact are Workinesh, an Ethiopian farmer watching her way of life erode as industrial development creeps toward her land, and Beti, a young factory worker seeking stability inside a system that demands more than it gives.
Filmed over four years through a pandemic and a civil war, the doc captures Ethiopia in a moment of profound transition. Drawing on more than a decade of journalistic experience in China, filmmakers Yu and Duncan bring rare access and cultural fluency to a story typically flattened into geopolitical talking points. Instead, they present a layered, human portrait that refuses simplified narratives, challenging viewers to consider the real winners and losers in the pursuit of development.
“Ethiopians are too often left out of the narratives that shape how they are seen globally, especially in mainstream news,” says Canadian producer Tamara Dawit. “MADE IN ETHIOPIA offers a rare counterpoint — it centres local voices and lived experiences in a global story. Supporting films like this is central to Gobez Media’s mission and the growing slate of African stories we champion.”
Critics have praised the film for its insight and sensitivity, calling it “provocative” and “compelling” (Variety), “absorbing” and a “One of six films to watch this week” (The Financial Times), and a “nuanced exploration of Ethiopia’s Chinese-led manufacturing boom” (The Guardian). Reviewers have highlighted the film’s sharp storytelling, patient cinematography, and willingness to delve into the complexities of modernization without pointing fingers.
The film is produced by Tamara Dawit, Xinyan Yu, and Max Duncan, with executive producers Anna Godas, Oli Harbottle, Susan Jakes, Mehret Mandefro, and Roger Graef. Cinematography is by Max Duncan, with editing by Biel Andrés, Jeppe Bødskov and Siyi Chen, and music composed by Ali Helnwein.
MADE IN ETHIOPIA is a Canadian, Ethiopian, American, British, South Korean and Danish co-production, presented in Chinese, Amharic, English and Oromo, with a running time of 91 minutes. It will be available to Canadian audiences at no cost starting January 14, 2026, exclusively on CBC Gem.