Paulos directed feature films and documentaries with a keen visual storytelling instinct, most notably Ashenge — a historical epic depicting the Italian invasion of Ethiopia that screened at international film festivals.
Paulos led post-production across films, TV series, and music videos — handling color grading in DaVinci Resolve, visual effects in Nuke, and sound design, delivering broadcast-quality results for projects including the DSTV series Meazar.
Born on Megabit 14, 1964 E.C. (March 1972) in Nekemte, Wollega, Paulos Regassa was a self-taught mechanical engineer who became one of Ethiopia's most accomplished filmmakers, music producers, and digital innovators. Over a 27-year career spanning gospel music arrangement, feature films, advertising, and documentary work, he left an indelible mark on the creative arts of his country — working with complete dedication right up until his final days.
Paulos was born the youngest of six children — three brothers and two sisters. In 1965 E.C., his father, Reverend Regassa Bedada, moved the family to Debre Zeyit (Bishoftu) to serve at the Bishoftu Mekane Yesus Church. Paulos grew up steeped in community, faith, and the rich culture of the Mekane Yesus congregation. His siblings include brothers Debela and Yacob Regassa, and sister Tigist Regassa.
He attended Atse Tewodros School for elementary education and Harar Meda Model School for high school. In 1982 E.C., he scored a 3.6 GPA on the national ESLCE exam and enrolled at Addis Ababa University to study Mechanical Engineering. That analytical mind — physics, mathematics, systems thinking — became the bedrock of his later mastery of cameras, software, and studio infrastructure.
His father, Reverend Regassa Bedada, was a pillar of the Debre Zeit community — establishing the Debre Zeit cemetery, contributing to social welfare, and enduring persecution with resolve during the Derg regime. His mother, W/ro Yeshi Chali, is renowned for her discipline in urban agriculture and cattle rearing after a career at a kindergarten. Paulos often said: whenever he and his mother met, they spoke exclusively about work.
As a boy, Paulos loved football and swimming in Lake Hora, Bishoftu. From high school he began dismantling and studying electronic equipment to understand how it worked — the same instinct that would later drive him to fully disassemble newly arrived professional cameras before anyone else had touched them. He started playing musical instruments at age 7–8, and later taught himself to read musical notation.
Paulos's brother Yacob Regassa, an electrical engineer, was his closest technical collaborator — designing the MIDI interface that launched Ethiopia's digital recording revolution, building the CMM Studio infrastructure, and co-inventing a custom machine for film production (visible in Ashenge). His sister Tigist Regassa stood faithfully by his side, accompanying him alongside Kulene on his final medical trip to India.
Paulos never studied film at a university. He mastered Cubase, DaVinci Resolve, Nuke, and every other tool through reading manuals and deep personal study — sometimes locking himself in for weeks to learn a single application. His expertise eventually drew college-level film professors to his studio to learn from him. "He reads the manual before touching the device," his childhood friend Rev. Dr. Geleta Simeso recalled. "I am like that now because he influenced me."
Beyond film and video, Paulos Regassa was a gifted composer and arranger whose work shaped both the Ethiopian secular music scene and the nation's gospel music movement. He was among the first in Ethiopia to arrange digitally, pioneering Cubase and professional DAW workflows at a time when most artists still relied entirely on live orchestras.
Paulos arranged music for Ethiopia's most celebrated gospel artists, including Endalkachew Hawaz (Enawa) — full debut album "Maderiyah Be Mesgana Yemola" and songs including "Talak Honeh Be Zufanh Lay" and "Ene Aychalehu" — Kalkidan Tilahun (Lily), Bethlehem Tezera (Betty) up to four albums, Getayawkal Girmay, and Meheretab Gebrehawariat. His arrangements blended contemporary sounds with deep spiritual conviction.
A deeply committed Christian, Paulos served the church through music for most of his life. He arranged the landmark Ethiopia Youth for Christ Concert (1998) at the National Theatre featuring Endalkachew Hawaz and Betty Wolde. In 2004, he and Yacob Regassa accomplished a milestone: the first multitrack live-stage recording in Ethiopia — captured live at the Bible Army Church during "Amlake Metamenaye New."
Paulos was a trailblazer in digital music production. He freely shared Cubase, software, and skills with fellow artists at no charge. Secular musicians who later transformed the mainstream Ethiopian music industry learned these digital workflows directly from the church studio environment Paulos and his circle built. He also composed film scores, including the music for Nishan (Medal) with Abraham Tesfaye.
Paulos and Kulene Fikru met in 1995 (1987 E.C.) at the Debre Zeit Mekane Yesus Church, where Paulos was teaching Christian doctrine and discipleship. They married on February 6, 2005 — a ceremony attended by 400 guests at the Tommy International Hotel. Their 21-year marriage was built on mutual respect, shared faith, and Kulene's honest feedback, which Paulos valued above all others. He always submitted a finished project to her first before anyone else saw it.
Read Final FarewellPaulos loved coffee — a habit Kulene introduced after their marriage. His favorite meal was Doro Wat with spicy red stew. He rarely lost his temper, but when he did, Kulene said "we would not know where to hide." He never disciplined his children physically, yet they respected him deeply. He charged clients fairly, refused to inflate prices, worked for the joy of it, and when young professionals he had mentored started their own businesses, he rejoiced for them. "He harbored no malice. He helped anyone who needed it," childhood friend Begna Simeso recalled.
"Paulos was a brother who stood by me when I built CMM Studio. He was a genius who could make everyone smile. The country has lost a great talent in both music and film."
"He was the first to use Cubase for my songs. He was never stingy with his knowledge — he shared his software and skills for free. Every time we met, he sincerely encouraged me and pointed out areas where I could improve."
"Paulos was always ahead of the curve. He would research and find hardware and software like Nuke or DaVinci that the rest of us didn't even know existed yet. He introduced DaVinci Resolve and Nuke to our entire industry."
"He didn't just work for the money; he worked for the joy of creating something perfect. My biggest regret is that he passed away before I could publicly thank him while he was still alive."
"In my view, Paulos is an unsung hero. I do not think many understood him. His wish was for young professionals to succeed. He supported them, encouraged them, and made them grasp new knowledge. This is the Paulos we have lost."
"He was a very grateful person. I never heard him complain, not even for a single day. Whenever he felt slightly better, he would start joking around. He taught me that we can achieve things that seem impossible through persistence and hard work."
"He didn't just work for the money; he worked for the joy of creating something perfect."
"Paul is a technically genius professional who is not as widely known as the extent of his work. He is a benefactor to Ethiopian filmmakers. When professionals face technical difficulty, Paulos is the first to arrive and help."
Years of Career
Brands Served
Films & Documentaries
Years Lived Fully
Wife — Married February 6, 2005 at Tommy International Hotel, 21 years together
Son (19) — Pianist who composed the Meazar DSTV soundtrack. Paulos encouraged him constantly.
Son — Cinematographer, following his father's path into production and camera work
A devoted Christian who conducted extensive studies on Eschatology and gathered people to teach about the return of Christ
When Paulos left for India in March 2026, he was still planning his next projects. His wife Kulene recalls: "He told me about the projects he would work on upon his return — and I was hopeful." Some of his greatest work was never finished.
Paulos spent 24 years making a single documentary — following one infant girl through the Hawzen war, capturing her growth, her marriage, and the birth of her child. No film in Ethiopian cinema was produced with that level of commitment to a single human story. It was never released. "Imagine a story of one person taking 24 years to make," said co-director Naod Shibabaw. "This shows the full commitment Paulos had to his work."
Kulene confirms that finished scripts and detailed story outlines remain on his laptop. Yidnekachew Shumete recalls that Paulos had drafted excellent scripts for multiple films on the Italian occupation of Ethiopia — historical epics he wanted to make after Ashenge. "He had international films he had not released yet," said Samson Kebede. "He would have realized many high-standard works if illness had not been an obstacle."
The last evening Rev. Dr. Geleta Simeso spent with Paulos — about a week before his final trip to India — Paulos told him: "We need to rearrange the choir hymns and play the instruments ourselves. It takes time, but once I finish my treatment and return, we will practice and do it." That evening, like every evening in his life, Paulos was already planning the next thing he would create.