Ama, the daughter of Senegalese asylum seekers, feels completely Dutch. When Ama’s mother and brother are arrested, Ama sets off in search of her father through Rotterdam in the middle of winter, hoping to avoid deportation. During this frightening and exciting journey, she discovers her roots, thanks in part to her extraordinary totem animal: a gigantic porcupine.
Totem Totem
Ama is really passionate about swimming and spends most of her free time practising for an important upcoming competition, together with her best friend, Thijs. Ama feels totally Dutch, even though her parents are asylum-seekers from Senegal.
directed by Sander Burger, screenplay Sander Burger, Bastiaan Tichler , music Amaury Laurent Bernier , cinematography Sal Kroonenberg , editing Manuel Rombley , cast Jean-Philippe Amani (Ama), Ole van Hoogdalem (Thijs), Lies Visschedijk (Thijs's mother), Emmanuel Ohene Boafo (Ama's father), Céline Camara (Ama's mother), producers Fleur Knopperts, Denis Vaslin
festivals, awards Cinekid 2022 (Audience Award), NYICFF 2023 – New York (Best Film), Giffoni 2023, JEF 2023 (Audience Award), BIKY – Busan 2023, CICFF 2023 –Chicago
IMDbPhotos
What's On
Honey Honey
Natasha Arthy
Sunday, 24. 05. 2026 / 14:40 / Main Hall
A shy Honey is caught between family secrets and her love of music. When she learns her grandfather might still be alive, she sets off on a journey – to find him and herself.
Kinobalon
/
Last Screening
Dandelion's Odyssey Planètes
Momoko Seto
Sunday, 24. 05. 2026 / 16:00 / Small Hall
Somewhere between computer animation, macro photography, and time-lapse footage, a gentle narrative unfolds about a world after the end of the world.
Whispers in the Woods Le chant des forêts
Vincent Munier
Sunday, 24. 05. 2026 / 16:50 / Main Hall
Following his film The Velvet Queen, in which he searched the Tibetan highlands for the elusive big cat, nature photographer Vincent Munier now invites us on an intimate journey to his native Vosges Mountains. Together with him, we will immerse ourselves in the sounds, textures, and scents of ancient forests. The film won the César Award for Best Documentary.