The project The Last Tears of the Deceased, by Ethiopian director Beza Hailu Lemma, has been awarded the 2024 Next Step Prize, granted by the Cannes Critics’ Week. The jury — composed of Priscilla Bertin (Silex Films), Stefano Centini (Volos Films), and Gabor Greiner (Films Boutique) — selected the project among those chosen for the programme, which has supported short film directors in their transition to feature filmmaking since 2014.

Since 2019, the selected projects have also competed for this prestigious award, in addition to participating in a development workshop. Lemma’s project, produced by Canadian company Gobez Media Inc. in co-production with French outfit Les Cigognes Films, stood out as the most remarkable entry this year.

The story follows Abba Samuel, a young newly ordained Ethiopian Orthodox priest, who begins to investigate his own death — said to have taken place in 1980 — and his subsequent resurrection. Through this journey, the protagonist explores the beliefs, contradictions, and mysteries surrounding life and death in his homeland.

To date, 96 filmmakers from 39 countries have received support from the Next Step programme, including recent titles such as Aisha Can’t Fly Away by Morad Mostafa (selected this year for Un Certain Regard) and Universal Language by Matthew Rankin (winner of the Audience Award at the 2023 Directors’ Fortnight).