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
No Other Choice Eojjeol suga eopda
Park Chan-wook
Sunday, 01. 02. 2026 / 11:00 / Main Hall
A highly entertaining and very timely satire filled with dark humour, vivid characters, and dizzying twists, following a family man who devises his own peculiar way of dealing with unemployment. Prepared over twenty years by Korean master Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, The Handmaiden), the film is among the leading contenders for an Academy Award nomination for Best International Feature Film.
Hola Frida Hola Frida
André Kadi, Karine Vézina
Sunday, 01. 02. 2026 / 11:30 / Small Hall
This playful and colourful film takes us into the world of the girl who would one day become the famous painter Frida Kahlo. Curious, imaginative and full of life, Frida turns every trial into an adventure.
Kinobalon
/
Additional Screening
Tales from the Magic Garden Tales from the Magic Garden
Leon Vidmar, David Súkup, Patrik Pašš, Jean-Claude Rozec
Sunday, 01. 02. 2026 / 14:45 / 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.