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
Whispers in the Woods Le chant des forêts
Vincent Munier
Friday, 12. 06. 2026 / 16:40 / 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.
The Last One for the Road Le città di pianura
Francesco Sossai
Friday, 12. 06. 2026 / 18:45 / Main Hall
Francesco Sossai breathes new life into Italian comedy with a bittersweet road movie. Together with two old friends, we wander through the Venetian lowlands, empty our glasses, and try to remember the “truly incredible thing about life” that Carlo Bianchi discovered. It was the big winner at the prestigious Italian David di Donatello film awards.
Sandbag Dam Zečji nasip
Čejen Černić
Friday, 12. 06. 2026 / 21:30 / Kinodvorišče
A story of forbidden love in the Croatian countryside, Sandbag Dam won the Kinotrip Youth Jury Award at Ljubljana International Film Festival (Liffe), as well as four awards at the Pula Film Festival.