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
LIFFe
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Kings & Queens
The Love That Remains Ástin sem eftir er
Hlynur Pálmason
Thursday, 20. 11. 2025 / 11:00 / Main Hall
An intimate look into the life of an Icelandic family as the parents navigate their separation. Featuring the director’s own children, the film explores the complexities of fading love and the impact of shared memories.
LIFFe
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Panorama
The Botanist Zhi wu xue jia
Jing Yi
Thursday, 20. 11. 2025 / 14:50 / Main Hall
The delicate friendship between a boy and a girl in a remote Chinese valley deepens into a dreamlike allegory that blurs the lines between reality and the enchanting world of botany.
LIFFe
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Avantpremieres
Stealing Land Zemljo krast
Žiga Virc
Thursday, 20. 11. 2025 / 17:00 / Main Hall
Filmed over a period of two days, this biting social satire focuses on the volatility of tolerance and how ordinary conversation can quickly turn into an ideological clash of opinions.