Beru Tessema

Writer / Director

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Film, TV & Theatre

Agent: Nick Barron
Associate Agent: Nicole Schivardi

Film, TV & Theatre

Beru Tessema is an Ethiopian-British writer and director based in London. He is a graduate of the London Film School and RADA. He is currently writing his debut feature film as writer-director EXILE IN NORTH WEEZY for Film4 while also developing another feature with Pulse Films/BBC Films called GHETTO GOSPEL. 

Beru’s stage play, EXILE IN NORTH WEEZY, was shortlisted for the Papatango Playwriting Prize 2020. His latest play, HOUSE OF IFE, premiered at Bush Theatre to brilliant reviews and he is now working on a new play commissioned by Bush Theatre and Tamasha, WOLVES ON ROAD. Beru’s short film LIONS, made with the support of CNC and BFI NETWORK was recently awarded the UniFrance Grand Prix for Best International Short Film at Cannes, it also competed at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2023 and was nominated for a BIFA. Beru has written LETTING GO, a drama for Channel 4 to be broadcast later this year for BlackLight and he is now developing a TV series with them called FIRST LOVE . Beru was part of BBC Drama Writersroom 2020-21 and is an Oxbelly Episodic Program Fellow 2023. 

He made his professional debut as a screen writer in 2017 when he co-wrote the feature film BARLEY FIELDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN (Dir. Tian Tsering), which was nominated for best feature film at the Valladolid International Film Festival under the Seminci Joven Award.

In addition to developing his current slate, Beru also teaches Acting at RADA.

HOUSE OF IFE Reviews

The Guardian - Beru Tessema’s script is richly textured and artfully written. This play is an absorbing one that showcases a wealth of talent.

The Talegraph - Tessema [is] absolutely terrific at dialogue

The Times - [House of Ife] sizzles with dangerous tension, and it’s beautifully acted. Tessema’s dialogue zings.

The Stage - Lively and boisterous.

The Reviews Hub – [House of Ife is] often hilarious, constantly thought-provoking […] funny, warm and tragic.

Broadway World - Tessema […] gives great humanity and realism to all the characters.

What’s on Stage - House of Ife positively brims with vitality, [it’s] one of the most vibrant pieces of new work I've seen for years.

Evening Standard - Beru Tessema […] knows how to write cracking dialogue, and his script has the tang of both domestic and urban authenticity.

In Development

ProductionCompanyNotes

EXILE IN NORTH WEEZY

Film4

Feature film as writer-director

FIRST LOVE

BlackLight/Channel 4

TV treatment

GHETTO GOSPEL

Pulse Films/BBC Films

Feature film as writer-director

Film

ProductionCompanyNotes

BARLEY FIELDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN

2017

Tashi Films Ltd.

Feature film. Directed by Tian Tsering.

Television

ProductionCompanyNotes

LETTING GO

2023

4 Stories / BlackLight Television

Writer, one episode part of 4 Stories anthology

Short Films

ProductionCompanyNotes

LIONS

2022

Saturday Films / KG Productions / CNC /BFI Network

Winner, Grand Prize Unifrance Short Film Awards 2023
Winner, Best Short, Salto Independent Film Festival 2022
Nominated, Best Short Film, BIFA 2024
National Competition, Claremont-Ferrand Film Festival 2023
Official Selection, LA International Short Film Festival 2022
Official Selection, London Short Film Festival 2022
London Film Festival, London Calling: Crucibles of Connection 2022
Official Selection, Premiers Plans Angers, European first short films 2023

VENUS FLYTRAP

2021

RADA

Winner, Best Short Film at the Birmingham Film and TV Festival

HAMLET, NW5

2021

RADA

Writer and Director
Official Selection, Montclair Film Festival 2021
Winner, Best Short Film, London Film & Television Festival
Winner, Best Short Film, Crystal Palace Film Festival 2023

VERSE

2015

Ayeneye

Writer, Director and Producer

ABSENCE

2014

Ayeneye

Writer, Director and Producer

Theatre

ProductionCompanyNotes

HOUSE OF IFE

2022

Bush Theatre

Play

EXILE IN THE NORTH WEEZY

2020

Papatango Playwriting Prize 2020