Ten-year-old Asalif and his mother have been displaced from their farmland on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by the construction of a condominium. To fight back against those casting him out, Asalif taps into a fantasy of becoming his hero: the lion (“anbessa” in Amharic). Asalif uses his imagination to battle forces beyond his control. He must find the strength that resides in him in order to deal with the tides of change that are usurping a community, a country, and his own identity.
Anbessa Anbessa
Through an intimate coming-of-age story, Anbessa captures one boy taking on modernization on his own terms, revealing a unique and magical perspective on the myth of “progress”.
What's On
How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies Lahn Mah
Pat Boonnitipat
Thursday, 01. 05. 2025 / 15:20 / Main Hall
A young Thai director wraps important questions about family, intergenerational ties, and the pursuit of happiness into a touching dramedy that broke all box office records at home and became a cultural phenomenon. Bring your grandma – and don’t forget the tissues!
Additional Screening
Conclave Conclave
Edward Berger
Thursday, 01. 05. 2025 / 18:00 / Main Hall
When Cardinal Lawrence takes charge of one of the world’s most secretive and ancient procedures—the selection of a new Pope—he finds himself entangled in intrigues and scandals that could shake the very foundations of the Catholic Church. Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Dahomey Dahomey
Mati Diop
Thursday, 01. 05. 2025 / 18:30 / Small Hall
A poetic documentary by Franco-Senegalese director Mati Diop gives voice to artefacts returning from exile in France to their homeland, Benin, and listens to young people as they discuss the significance of this historic event.