“Faya dayi” is a hymnal chant recited by the Harari farmers of Ethiopia as they harvest khat, a native plant chewed for its stimulant properties. Roughly translated, faya dayi means “giving birth to wellness or health.” It is also the title of Ethiopian/Mexican filmmaker Jessica Beshir’s one-of-a-kind, profoundly moving new documentary set in the magical and troubled land where she grew up.

Deeply affected by the stunning beauty and originality of the film, Ken and Mike were extremely fortunate to be able to talk to Jessica at length about her tour-de-force documentary feature debut, which she shot, directed and produced over the course of a transformative ten-year personal journey. How did Jessica maintain her faith in the project for so many years and develop the sense of self-confidence that she could pull it off? What was her inspiration for embracing an aesthetic that privileges instinct and emotion over traditional narrative devices? How did she do justice to the stories of the young people who have been struggling for freedom under a series of repressive regimes? We invite you to listen in on our conversation with Jessica for her many insights into the film. We also encourage you to experience “Faya Dayi”, a Janus Films release, on the big screen. For those in NYC, catch it at the Maysles Documentary Center 11/19 – 12/3. Congratulations to Jessica on being nominated for three IDA Documentary Awards!

Follow Jessica Beshir on Twitter @jessybeshir

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