Araya Mengesha
Araya Mengesha is a Toronto-born, Ethiopian-Eritrean award-winning actor and filmmaker.
As an actor, Mengesha won a Gemini Award for his work in MYSTERY HUNTERS, 2009 and a Canadian Screen Award nominee for Best Lead Performer, Digital Series for REVENGE OF THE BLACK BEST FRIEND, 2023 and a multi-ACTRA Award nominee for REVENGE OF THE BLACK BEST FRIEND, 2023 and ANNE WITH AN E, 2020.
Select film and television credits include a series regular role on the smash hit and multi-award winning, LAW & ORDER TORONTO: CRIMINAL INTENT (CityTV/The CW), NOBODY (Universal), ANNE WITH AN E (CBC/Netflix), TINY PRETTY THINGS (Netflix), REVENGE OF THE BLACK BEST FRIEND (CBC), and SHOOT THE MESSENGER (CBC/WGN).
On stage, Mengesha has performed in BREATH OF KINGS (Prince Hal/Henry V) and RICE BOY for the prestigious Stratford Festival, and acclaimed productions WAR HORSE and THE LION KING for Mirvish.
As a filmmaker, Mengesha co-wrote and directed the short film DEFUND, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2021 and made the festival’s list of “Canada’s Top Ten” in the same year. The film continued collecting wins/nominations along the festival circuit and was a Vimeo Staff Pick.
Currently in development, Mengesha is working on feature film THE SECTION, based on the short work TEF, which he wrote, and in which he starred, during his residency at the Canadian Film Centre.