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
The Last One for the Road Le città di pianura
Francesco Sossai
Saturday, 30. 05. 2026 / 18:50 / 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.
House with a Voice House with a Voice
Kristine Nrecaj, Birthe Templin
Saturday, 30. 05. 2026 / 21:00 / Main Hall
These are the stories of six Albanian women who have taken on the social role of men and become burneshes for various reasons.
Tafiti – Across the Desert Tafiti – Across the Desert
Nina Wels
Sunday, 31. 05. 2026 / 11:30 / Small Hall