Public Event: Screening Israeli-Ethiopian Film with Director and Producer on Campus
The Tam Institute for Jewish Studies (TIJS) at Emory University will host a public screening of Bunchi, a 32-minute drama in Hebrew and Amharic, depicting how an Ethiopian-Israeli mother grapples with traditional gender roles while striving to save her family from a worsening crisis. The screening, to take place on Tuesday, April 15th at 6:30pm, will also include director and screenwriter Esti Almo Wexler, who will share her experiences as an Ethiopian-Israeli filmmaker, and producer Elad Wexler. This free, on-campus event will be held in White Hall 205. Advanced registration is requested, which you may complete here: https://tinyurl.com/tamevent.
The film features a family of Ethiopian immigrants to Israel dealing with the unexpected escape of its patriarch, Malkamo, back to his homeland. His daughter-in-law Bunchi is left to care for her demented mother-in-law, her deceitful husband and their two adolescent daughters. When Malkamo unexpectedly returns to Israel, raising hopes and a promise of relief, Bunchi is forced to confront her innermost dreams and secrets.
Bunchi is self-described as one of the most sensitive and feminist films made dealing with Ethiopian-Israeli women. Director and script writer Esti Almo Wexler weaved a delicate story revealing how one woman deals with traditional concepts of the woman’ role in the family, while trying to save her family from a deteriorating situation.
Almo Wexler also served as director and script writer of Lady Titi (2018)- the first feature film dealing with Ethiopian-Israelis that was screened commercially in cinemas all over Israel.
Born in Ethiopia, Esti immigrated to Israel at the age of four. In Israel she was reunited with her father, who had arrived two years before the rest of the family. After her military service, she opted to study Photography and Screen Based Arts at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem. She held numerous photography exhibitions, and won many awards. At some point, her love of the art of storytelling prevailed, and Esti went on to study for her Master’s Degree in film and television at Tel Aviv University. Her first film was the short drama Summer of ‘89 (2013), which she wrote and directed. The film was screened at film festivals and aired on Israel Channel 10.
Together with Elad Wexler, Bunchi’s producer, she founded Abayenesh Productions in 2012. Esti is the creative content director and owner of Abayenesh Productions.
Emory’s Tam Institute for Jewish Studies is one of the leading research and teaching institutions for Jewish Studies in the Southern United States. Bringing together scholars and students from different departments and programs, it awards an undergraduate major and minor in Emory College of Arts and Sciences and provides support for doctoral-level work. In addition to the Tenenbaum Lecture, the Institute also sponsors the annual Rabbi Jacob M. Rothschild Memorial Lecture and many other events designed to share the insights of research in Jewish Studies with a broad public audience.
Contact TIJS Communications Coordinator, Brent Buckley, with any questions at brent.buckley@emory.edu.
Published 4/8/25