A love letter to Ethiopia
“Running against the Wind” is a passionate love letter to Ethiopia. In his cinema debut, director Jan Philipp Weyl tells the inspiring story of two friends who fight to make their dreams come true - with an unconditional will to survive and against all odds! Filmed on original locations as well as featuring a guest appearance by Running legend Haile Gebrselassie. “Running against the Wind“ was awarded the Young Talent Award of the German Film Peace Prize and was the official Ethiopian Oscar submission in the category „Best International Film“ in 2020.
Two twelve-year-old boys grow up together in a remote village in Ethiopia - until a single photograph awakens big dreams in both of them and changes their lives forever: Solomon secretly leaves the village and goes to the urban jungle of Addis Ababa to become a photographer. Abdi, on the other hand, stays and trains. He wants to become a famous long-distance runner like Haile Gebrselassie once was. Both, who grew up like brothers, mature separately into men. Years later, when Abdi is nominated for the Ethiopian national running team and moves to Addis Ababa, he hardly believes that Solomon is still alive. But an inner voice tells him to look for his old friend ...
Festivals / film awards
- 2022: Internationales Filmfest Emden-Norderney, DE
- 2021: Friedenspreis des Deutschen Films – Die Brücke, DE, Winner: Young Talent Prize
- 2021: International Film Festival of India, IN
- 2020: Academy Awards, USA, Official Submission (Ethiopia), Best International Feature Film
- 2020: First Steps Award, DE, Best Newcomer Actor (Mikiyas Wolde)
- 2020: Golden Globe Awards, USA, Official Submission (Ethiopia), Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language
- 2016: Deutscher Drehbuchpreis, DE, Preselection
Distribution funding
Partners
