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
Stealing Land Zemljo krast
Žiga Virc
Wednesday, 22. 04. 2026 / 15:20 / Main Hall
When a children’s game sparks political debates at the dinner table, an evening of absurd conflicts, low blows, and unexpected confrontations begins… This feature-length film is a sparkling, witty social satire in which parents fight not only for a better future for their children, but also for their own egos.
Premiere
Silent Friend Silent Friend
Ildikó Enyedi
Wednesday, 22. 04. 2026 / 19:00 / Main Hall
A mighty old tree stands in the garden of a German university. Three eras, three human lives, and three clumsy yet sincere attempts at connection: with the world, with nature, and with oneself. A film by Ildikó Enyedi (On Body and Soul).