Beza Hailu Lemma

In contemporary Ethiopia, a farming community's exodus is disrupted when the patriarch of a prominent family disappears from his grave. Tessema, his son, begins to question the church's divine explanation, forcing him to launch his own investigation.

In the district of Katanga, in Addis Ababa, Amele and her makeshift hostel welcome young people seeking refuge in the Ethiopian capital. Every day sees the arrival of a new person, a new experience, a new story. The filmmakers sensitively paint the portrait of a place and its residents.

BALLAD OF THE SPIRITS tells the story of an Ethiopian man who, after a long-term relationship with a woman he loves ends abruptly, roams the streets of Addis Ababa looking for answers. The city’s historical and modern architecture signify the country’s past as well as potential personal and societal changes.