Angelina Jolie as Executive Producer of 'Difret' film about Ethiopian Marriage by Abduction, Premieres at the 2014 Sundance Festival [WATCH VIDEO]

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie reportedly signed up to be the executive producer of the film "Difret" by Ethiopian filmmaker Zeresenay Berhane Mehari. "Difret" is a movie about "telefa" or Ethiopian marriage by abduction. It premiered at the 2014 Sundance Festival on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014 as part of the film festival's World Cinema Dramatic Competition. The 2014 Sundance Festival will run from Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014 up to Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014 in Park City, Utah.

"Difret" is a film that tells the story of a female lawyer named Meaza Ashenafi and a girl (Hirut) who team up to fight against the Ethiopian tradition of "telefa" or marriage by abduction. The film is in Amharic, which is the national language of Ethiopia.

According to Deadline Hollywood, Jolie will also have a presentation credit on "Difret." She released the following statement about the said film to Deadline.

"This film is a strong moment for art in Ethiopia," said Jolie in a report by Deadline Hollywood.

"It is inspiring to see such an important story so beautifully illustrated with such creative talent. It draws out the richness of Ethiopian culture and shows how important legal advances can be made while respecting local culture."

"It is a story that gives hope for Ethiopia's future, and for other countries where countless girls grow up without the protection of laws that shield them and their bodies, and shows how the courage of brave individuals can awaken the conscience of a society," Jolie added.

In the official Web site of "Difret," a statement by director Mehari was posted explaining why he chose to make a film about Ethiopian traditions, particularly "telefa" or Ethiopian marriage by abduction.

"For the last ten years I have witnessed Ethiopia change and grow in ways that are conflicted. I wanted to make a film that captured this flux and translated the struggle of moving from an old Ethiopia to a new one. DIFRET became that film by posing one simple question: What happens when traditions that are passed down from generation to generation become interrupted?" wrote Mehari in the "Difret" Web site.

"I answer this question by telling the story of Meaza Ashenafi, the founder of a legal aid organization that challenged one of the oldest traditions in Ethiopia called "telefa."

"Telefa" is the practice of abduction into marriage. It is a tradition that is taken for granted in many parts of the country and affects over 40% of adolescent girls," added Mehari in his statement posted on the film's Web site.

Check out the video below about Ethiopians in Hollywood featuring "Difret" director Zeresenay "Zee" Berhane Mehari:

CREDIT: YouTube/kidanefilms

It's not at all surprising that Jolie supports the Ethiopian film "Difret" because one of her adopted children, eight-year-old Zahara, is from the African country. She adopted Zahara in 2005 and has been taking care of her ever since.

38-year-old Jolie has been seen around Australia with her family including fiancé Brad Pitt and their six children namely Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne. She is busy filming her movie "Unbroken," which she is currently directing. It will be shown on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2014. It is about the life of Olympic runner and prisoner of war (POW) Louis Zamperini who was imprisoned during World War II by Japanese forces.

"Unbroken" stars Jack O'Connell ("Skins"), Garrett Hedlund ("TRON: Legacy," "Country Strong," "On the Road" and "Inside Llewyn Davis") as John Fitzgerald and Domhnall Gleeson ("About Time," "Never Let Me Go" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Parts 1 and 2") as Russell Allen 'Phil' Phillips.

Click HERE to visit the official Web site of the film "Difret" by Ethiopian filmmaker Zeresenay Berhane Mehari, with Angelina Jolie as executive producer.

Check out the tweets about "Difret" film below:

In the brilliance of the talented Meron Ghetnet of @Difretfilm pic.twitter.com/46aZC9wW0i

— Julie Mehretu (@JulieMehretu) January 19, 2014

Team #difret picture just before our world premier of @Difretfilm @sundancefest. pic.twitter.com/WjaTExPoXp — Sara Menker (@SaraMenker) January 19, 2014

First TV interview about #difret for #Sundance Channel Global. pic.twitter.com/T8IyyLtWnW

— Difret (@Difretfilm) January 17, 2014

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