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Anbessa
A boy becomes a lion to fight back against what he cannot control.
2019 · 86 min · Feature documentary · Ethiopia, Italy, USA
A boy caught between an ancient and a new world navigates modernization on his own terms. By becoming a lion, anbessa, he can fight back against the forces outside of his control.
World premiere at 69° Berlinale, Generation K+ Competition, nominated for the Glashütte Documentary Prize.
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The trailer
“A masterful work of sensory ethnography.”
The Film Stage
“Eloquent. A tender portrait.”
Sight & Sound
“Hope and despair intermingle in a profoundly cinematic mix.”
Hammer To Nail
“Visually arresting. Incredibly fascinating and absolutely worth watching.”
Film Threat
“Anbessa does not play tricks. Beautiful, humorous and thought-provoking.”
Little Village
4 distinctions
Selections and awards
Stills
From the film
Credits
Who made it
A film by
Mo Scarpelli
Director
Producers
Caitlin Mae Burke
Mo Scarpelli
Executive Producers
Danielle Perissi
Gelila Bekele
Associate Producers
D.D. Wigley
Pierce Varous
Director of Photography
Mo Scarpelli
Editors
Nico Leunen
Thomas Pooters
Music
Erik K Skodvin
Line Producer and Translator
Misgan Assefa Lulie
A Rake Films production in association with Moby Group
With support of Studio Say So and Nice Dissolve NY
With support from Catapult Film Fund, IDFA Forum, IDFA Academy, True/False + Catapult Rough Cut Retreat, IFP, Mountainfilm Telluride.
Distribution with ARTE (France), ZDF (Germany), MUBI and Torch Films.
22 selections
Festivals and screenings
69° Berlinale
Generation Competition, nominated for the Glashütte Documentary Prize
IDFA 2019
Kids & Docs Competition
40° Durban International Film Festival
Special Mention for Best Documentary
Hot Docs
World Cinema Selection
MiradasDoc
El Mirador Award for Best Documentary Feature
21° Olympia International Film Festival
ECFA Award for Best Documentary
Sole Luna Doc Fest
Best Cinematography
Mountainfilm Telluride
Best Director, Honorary Mention for Best Documentary Feature
For press and programmers
Press kit and links
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