Bio

Herrana Addisu is a multidisciplinary filmmaker, strategist, and founder of Chucha Studios, a creative production house bridging visual storytelling with social change. Raised in Ethiopia and based in New York, her work explores migration, identity, and systemic injustice through a deeply personal and globally resonant lens. Her debut short film The River—produced in Ethiopia with support from SheaMoisture and Tina Knowles—has screened internationally and won acclaim for its poetic approach to themes like water accessibility, forced marriage, and gender-based violence. Herrana’s work spans from award-winning filmmaking to advocacy in anti-human trafficking, with years of program leadership at the United Nations and NGOs like Freedom United. A former policy research fellow on Women, Peace & Security, her commitment to justice and culture is both intellectual and artistic. She’s been featured in Essence, ID, Forbes, and New York Magazine. Her debut presented by Chucha Studios, The River, is an award-winning short film exploring Ethiopian culture, womanhood, and water inequity produced in collaboration with Qene Films . Set along the Kebena River, it highlights ancestral beauty and systemic barriers women face. A film still is included to reflect its visual and thematic depth.