The Abyssinian Cat follows Asha, a young woman adopted in childhood from Ethiopia and raised in Barcelona, separated from her sister Sebrina due to health reasons.
Years later, a sudden message from Sebrina reconnects them, prompting Asha to revisit her past and the complex bonds of family, identity, and resilience. Through letters and a return to Ethiopia, Abyssinian Cat delves into themes of separation, belonging, and childhood trauma, constructing a poignant narrative of self-discovery and sisterhood.
DIRECTORS BIOGRAPHY
Asha Broenn and Filip Martinovic
Asha Broenn is an Ethiopian-born filmmaker and actress who, alongside Serbian-Spanish director Filip Martinović, co-starred in the documentary “Telenovela en gris y multicolor” (2021). The film, an autobiographical docu-fiction, explores themes of identity and belonging through a journey to Martinović’s family roots in Serbia, Barcelona, and Croatia.
His approach to scriptwriting was key to giving the film a more authentic and visceral dimension, as he sought to personally and emotionally understand the conflicts and dynamics between the protagonists. This involvement allowed the film to transcend mere cinematic representation to become a profound reflection on identity, belonging, and human relationships in a multicultural context.
Filip Martinović was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1988, and grew up in Barcelona. He currently lives in Barcelona. In 2018, he completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees in Film and Television Directing at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, where he is currently pursuing his PhD.
In 2018, he founded the production company GULU GULU in Serbia, with which he produced his first documentary as a director, screenwriter, and producer: Telenovela en gris y multicolor (2021). The film premiered at the 2021 Málaga Film Festival and received a special mention at DokuFest and the award for best editing at Beldocs. It was also selected at the L’Alternativa festival in Barcelona and distributed on platforms such as Filmin and Guidedoc.
CRÍTICAS DE PRENSA
“De vez en cuando te encuentras con una obra de arte que cumple todos los requisitos. Light Falls Vertical es uno de esos raros ejemplos, que ofrece una visión profunda de las almas tanto de un agresor como de una víctima de violencia doméstica”.
Business Doc Europe
“Un documental ensayístico sobre la violencia doméstica profundamente personal y a la vez universal.”
International Cinephile Society
“Un relato íntimo de una mente atormentada, sin que nunca sea intrusivo”
Business Doc Europe
Title: La Gata Abisinia
International title: Abyssinian Cat
Genre: Intimate, self-referential documentary
Running time: 90 min.
Recording Format: Digital, UHD, 16:9
Production: Gris Medio
Co-production: GULU GULU presents
Country of Production: Spain, Serbia
Original Language: Mainly Spanish
Supported by: Filmski Centar Srbije, Creative Media Europe
