Wubetu Shimelash is an award-winning filmmaker, public speaker, and social entrepreneur redefining the role of storytelling as a force for justice, advocacy, and sustainable impact. With a cinematic voice shaped by his Ethiopian heritage and refined through Hollywood training, his work amplifies underrepresented voices, celebrates cultural identity, and addresses critical social and environmental issues.

A trailblazer in Ethiopian cinema, Wubetu made history as the first Ethiopian documentary filmmaker to win a Directors Guild of America (DGA) Award, and only the second Ethiopian recognized in any DGA category in its 89-year history. He is also the first Ethiopian filmmaker nominated for a BAFTA in its 78-year history, and he is a proud member of the International Documentary Association (IDA).

Beyond filmmaking, Wubetu is the Co-founder and CEO of Simien Eco Trek, a pioneering Ethiopian social enterprise that merges eco-cultural tourism with grassroots community empowerment. Since its launch in 2017, the organization has hosted thousands of travelers and impacted over 13,000 Ethiopians through programs focused on education, menstrual health, solar energy access, job creation, and entrepreneurship training.

In 2018, Wubetu was selected from over 50,000 applicants as a One Young World Ambassador, representing Ethiopia at the global summit in The Hague—an international forum for emerging leaders from more than 190 countries. He returned in 2019 as a keynote speaker at the London Summit, sharing the stage with global change-makers including Professor Muhammad Yunus, Sir Richard Branson, Dr. Jane Goodall, the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, and J.K. Rowling. His keynote received international acclaim and was featured by more than 300 major media outlets including BBC, TIME, The Guardian, CNBC, Reuters, and Vanity Fair.

Wubetu holds an MFA from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, specializing in Producing, Directing, and Cinematography, and a BA from Wake Forest University in Film Studies, Communication, and Social Entrepreneurship.

His films—Shepherd’s Calling (2024), I Am More Dangerous Dead (2023), and Blackifier (2022)—have been screened at over 200 international festivals and recognized with multiple DGA honors. Through powerful, purpose-driven cinema, Wubetu Shimelash continues to craft transformative stories that foster cultural exchange, elevate marginalized voices, and inspire global change.