Herrana Addisu is a multidisciplinary artist, award-winning filmmaker, and social impact strategist using storytelling to challenge systemic injustice and uplift marginalized communities. Raised in Ethiopia before immigrating to the United States, her lived experiences have fueled a lifelong commitment to human rights, representation, and equity. She is the founder of Chucha Studios, a creative production company dedicated to connecting visual storytelling with systemic change. Through strategic campaigns, short films, photography, and brand collaborations, Herrana’s work centers historically excluded voices—focusing on themes such as gender-based violence, labor exploitation, and migration.

Her debut film, The River (2024), shot entirely in Ethiopia in collaboration with Qene Films with an all-women cast of 40, explores forced marriage, gender violence, and water accessibility. It earned Best Female Director at the Urbanworld Film Festival (Academy Award-qualifying), Black Spectrum Award at ASVOFF in Paris (Led by Michèle Lamy), and Best Experimental Film at Blackstart Film Festival. The film has been showcased at SXSW London, Kurzfilm Hamburg, and Amsterdam Fashion Week, where it was projected across subway platforms and billboards.

Her work has been featured in Forbes, Essence, The Cut, and i-D Magazine. Through art, advocacy, and community-building, Herrana continues to redefine cultural leadership and the role of storytelling in driving social change.