Merfe

About this Short Film

Merfe, by Ethiopian filmmaker Samuel Zerihun, arrives at our 2025 Focus on Ability festival as a quietly observant short about ability, work and independence. The film draws on images and motifs associated with crutches, tailoring and youth to present a small, human portrait of a young adult living with a physical disability. It does not rely on spectacle. Instead it offers patient attention to daily tasks, skill and personal presence, inviting viewers to consider ordinary expertise and adaptation. For audiences at the festival, Merfe is a subtle reminder that ability takes many forms and that craft and care can be powerful ways of defining oneself.