Haile Gerima Returns! Will "Black Lions" SHOCK Berlin?

A legend is back. Haile Gerima, a towering figure of the L.A. Rebellion and independent cinema, is set to unveil his latest film, "Black Lions – Roman Wolves," at the Berlin Film Festival next year. This marks Gerima's first feature in what feels like an age – since 2008's acclaimed "Teza," to be exact – and naturally, the film world is buzzing.

Haile Gerima Returns! Will "Black Lions" SHOCK Ber...

The Berlinale made the announcement this morning, slotting "Black Lions – Roman Wolves" into its prestigious Forum lineup. The festival's description paints a picture of a sweeping, decades-in-the-making project: "Decades in the making, Haile Gerima’s sweeping survey of Italy’s brutal colonial legacy in Ethiopia is a monumental reckoning with suppressed history. With a balladeer’s spirit, Gerima forges an epic ballad of resistance, freedom, and national pride." The film, listed as a joint Ethiopian-American production, promises a deep dive into a history often overlooked, and told through Gerima's uniquely powerful lens.

It's hard to overstate Gerima's importance. "Teza," his last feature, garnered serious attention, winning the Special Jury Prize and Best Screenplay award at the Venice Film Festival. But even during his "absence" from feature filmmaking, Gerima's influence has only grown. Thanks to Ava DuVernay's Array Releasing, beautifully restored versions of his earlier masterpieces, like "Ashes And Embers" and the groundbreaking "Sankofa," have found new audiences and solidified his place in the cinematic canon. His films are essential viewing, providing critical perspectives on race, history, and identity. Honestly, it's about time more people recognize his genius.

For those who know Gerima's work, "Black Lions – Roman Wolves" has been a long time coming. He's been discussing the project for years, even using his Sankofa Video Books & Café in Washington, D.C. – a cultural hub in its own right – to help raise funds. He's reportedly incorporated firsthand accounts of resistance fighters who lived through the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. That dedication, that commitment to giving voice to the unheard, is precisely what makes Gerima such a vital filmmaker. I remember visiting Sankofa years ago and feeling the palpable sense of community and purpose there; you just knew something important was being nurtured.

Alongside Gerima's highly anticipated return, the Berlinale Forum will also showcase Volker Koepp’s "Chronos – Fluss der Zeit (Chronos – Flow of Time)" and James Benning’s "Eight Bridges." Benning's cryptic synopsis – simply, "It seems to be the time to consider bridges" – only adds to the intrigue. The 2026 Berlin Film Festival, running from February 12th to 22nd, is already shaping up to be an unmissable event for cinephiles everywhere. Mark your calendars!