In 1896, Ethiopia gained victory over Italy, hitting back at its first attempt to conquer the East African country. When Mussolini and the fascists came to power in 1922, the still abstract risk of a further attack became concrete. In 1935, Italy began an assault on Ethiopia once again, subjecting the country to a brutal war, not shying away from the use of poisonous gas: a crime, paradoxically, at once omnipresent and barely remembered in today's Italy.
Haile Gerima, veteran of the L.A. Rebellion and New Black Cinema, worked for 30 years on his monumental exploration of the history and mythology of Italian colonialism, and also commemoration of the Ethiopian resistance. From archive material, conversations with historical witnesses and his father's plays, he weaves together a panorama of self-affirmation and colonial murder, of European complicity and Black solidarity. Black Lions - Roman Wolves sets Ethiopian voices against lasting colonialist lies - and the recordings of the resistance against the reproduction of colonial images; against the entrenched visual dominance of the colonisers. A film for the present as well as for the coming decades.

mit | estrelado | starring | avec
...........

ein film von | um filme de | a film by | un film de
Haile GERIMA

Ethiopia, USA | 2026 | Feature Documentary | 9h25 (531') | Colour & Black/White | Amharic, English, Italian | Subtitles: English

Original Title | Titre original :
Black Lions - Roman Wolves

Titel / Títulos / Titles / Titres :
BLACK LIONS - ROMAN WOLVES

Filmgattung | Tipo | Type :
Largometraje Documental | Dokumentar | Feature documentary | Long métrage Documentaire

السنة | Produktionsjahr / Ano de Produção / Year of production / Année de production :
2026

المدة | Runtime | Durée : 9h25 (531 minutes)
Colours | Couleurs : Color, B&W | Couleur, Noir et Blanc
البلد | Country | Pays : Ethiopia, USA | Ethiopie, USA
Languages | Langues : Amharic, English, Italian | Amharique, anglais, italien

البلد | Filmmaker's Country | Pays du cinéaste : Ethiopia, USA | Ethiopie, USA

TAGS : War & Displacement, Fighting for Justice, Guerre et migrations, Combat pour la Justice

Producers | Producteurs :
Haile Gerima,
Shirikiana Aina Gerima


REGISSEUR | REGIA | REALIZADOR | DIRECTOR | RÉALISATEUR :
Haile GERIMA

Screenplay | Scénario :
Haile Gerima

Cinematography | Images :


Sound Design | Design sonore :
Merawi Gerima

Composer (Music) | Compositeur (Musique originale) :
Aschalew Fetene

Animation :
Andres Jaramillo

Editing | Montage :
Haile Gerima


Press Attaché (PR) | Attaché de presse :


PRODUKTION / PRODUÇÃO / PRODUCTION / PRODUCTION :
- Negod Gwad Productions (Washington D.C., USA | shirikg(@)gmail.com)
- Habilis Productions

Sales | Ventes internationales :
Mypheduh Films
Washington, D.C., USA
www.mypheduhfilms.com/

CONTACT (Print Copy / Diffusion du film, Festivals) :
Mypheduh Films
Washington, D.C., USA
www.mypheduhfilms.com/


FESTIVALS - PROJECÇÕES / FESTIVALS - SCREENINGS / PROJECTIONS (selection) :

/// 2026 | World Premiere (Forum) || 76th Berlinale | BERLIN (Germany)


Fuente / Fontes / Our Source / Quelle / Nos Sources (MAIS INFORMAÇÕES / READ MORE / PLUS D'INFOS) :
► Africiné Magazine (Dakar)
► www.mypheduhfilms.com/
► www.instagram.com/reel/DUtdSauke9v/
► Berlinale 2026 | www.berlinale.de/en/2026/programme/202616228.html
Updated by Thierno DIA, 17 Feb 2026