Burtukaan Adaree (she/her)

Burtukaan Adaree is a writer, director, and producer who immigrated from Ethiopia to Seattle fifteen years ago. Much of her creative practice is rooted in preserving her culture and her family’s history. After moving to Seattle, she became more aware of how her identity was shaped by the family she left behind in Ethiopia. She carries the resilience of her great grandmother, the listening spirit of her grandfather, and the resourcefulness of her mother into everything she creates. She began her work in film as a camera operator with the LUX Film Club at University of Washington, where she developed a foundational understanding of on-set collaboration. Burtukaan later continued her filmmaking journey through a local screenwriting lab, where she won a competition and was selected to write, direct, and produce her first short film, Against the Odds. She was also selected for Langston’s and CD Forum’s Create & Thrive Program, where she further deepened her practice alongside a cohort of multidisciplinary artists. In September 2025, she organized Oromo Film Night, a community screening event showcasing short films by Oromo filmmakers. Oromo people are the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, with a global diaspora, and their stories are rarely seen on screen. The event brought together over 200 attendees, creating space for cultural exchange and dialogue. Her work centers on Oromo and Black communities, with a focus on immigrant stories and emotional, character-driven storytelling.