Help Bring LEKSO to Life — A Short Film on Faith, Grief, & Culture.

Hi friends,

We're raising $10,000 to produce our short film, LEKSO, a story about grief, family, and faith within the Ethiopian diaspora.

Logline:

A first-generation Ethiopian American girl experiences death and doubt for the first time as her community mourns in a shocking, traditional way.

In LEKSO, we follow Gigi, a young Ethiopian American girl grappling with the loss of a loved one. As her community mourns through the powerful cultural ritual of lekso, Gigi is confronted not only with grief, but with the emotional confusion of being told not to cry. It’s a story about the sacredness of grief, the complexity of culture, and the possibility of emotional freedom.

A lekso is a traditional Ethiopian/Eritrean mourning ceremony where grief is expressed loudly and communally through wailing, prayer, and presence lasting for days. While this is a deeply rooted cultural practice, children are rarely taught its meaning; they simply witness the intensity, sometimes feeling confused or overwhelmed as they try to make sense of death and their own emotions.

The funds raised will support equipment rentals, fair pay and meals for the crew, as well as essential post-production work like music, sound, & color.

Every contribution, no matter the size, helps bring this story to life. And if you can’t donate right now, please consider sharing this campaign with your community.

Thank you for supporting LEKSO.

With love and gratitude,

The LEKSO Team

Mekdese (Writer, Director, Producer)

Allysa (Cinematographer, Producer)

Tubo (Producer)