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
Kinobalon
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Additional Screening
Tales from the Magic Garden Tales from the Magic Garden
Leon Vidmar, David Súkup, Patrik Pašš, Jean-Claude Rozec
Saturday, 20. 12. 2025 / 11:30 / Main Hall
Three kids spend the night at their grandpa’s house. To fill the silence after losing their grandma, the family’s storyteller, they create their own stories and discover the power of imagination. This uplifting stop-motion film celebrates creativity and its healing magic.
Whites Wash at Ninety Belo se pere na devetdeset
Marko Naberšnik
Saturday, 20. 12. 2025 / 13:20 / Main Hall
A film adaptation of the bestselling novel by Bronja Žakelj, in which the author recounts her own life story. Set in Ljubljana in the 1980s, the film is a touching, humorous, and inspiring tale of growing up, loss, and survival.