Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The official trailer for “WAX & GOLD“ by Ruth Beckermann.
About the film:
Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie opened a grand hotel, the Hilton Addis Ababa, at the end of Africa’s defining decade of the 1960s. It became a controversial symbol of both his hope for the future of Africa and self-aggrandisement. Settling into the hotel, Ruth Beckermann delves into Ethiopia’s past and present, navigating the familiar and the foreign, fact and fiction. As her quest for historical truth unfolds, an audit that is layered with contradictions, insight and enlightenment unfolds. Beckermann blends archival footage of the Emperor with present-day conversations and interviews at the hotel, and also integrates her own reflections as a European woman into the film. At the same time, she gives us a glimpse of contemporary life outside of the opulent hotel, where workers queue in long lines at bus stops and the skyline is marked by the skeletons of high-rise buildings awaiting completion.
Are you excited about the film? Support it and show your love for cinema by sharing the trailer with your friends and family.
“WAX & GOLD“ is part of the 2026 Special programme.
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#Berlinale #Berlinale2026 #Trailer
Thumbnail: © Ruth Beckermann Filmproduktion
The official trailer for “WAX & GOLD“ by Ruth Beckermann.
About the film:
Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie opened a grand hotel, the Hilton Addis Ababa, at the end of Africa’s defining decade of the 1960s. It became a controversial symbol of both his hope for the future of Africa and self-aggrandisement. Settling into the hotel, Ruth Beckermann delves into Ethiopia’s past and present, navigating the familiar and the foreign, fact and fiction. As her quest for historical truth unfolds, an audit that is layered with contradictions, insight and enlightenment unfolds. Beckermann blends archival footage of the Emperor with present-day conversations and interviews at the hotel, and also integrates her own reflections as a European woman into the film. At the same time, she gives us a glimpse of contemporary life outside of the opulent hotel, where workers queue in long lines at bus stops and the skyline is marked by the skeletons of high-rise buildings awaiting completion.
Are you excited about the film? Support it and show your love for cinema by sharing the trailer with your friends and family.
“WAX & GOLD“ is part of the 2026 Special programme.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BERLINALE CHANNEL HERE
► bit.ly/BerlinaleYouTube
CHECK OUT
► Instagram: instagram.com/berlinale
► TikTok: tiktok.com/@berlinale
► LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/berlinale
► Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/dpEOX
► Facebook: facebook.com/berlinale
► Website: https://www.berlinale.de
► Newsletter: bit.ly/BerlinaleNewsletter
#Berlinale #Berlinale2026 #Trailer
Thumbnail: © Ruth Beckermann Filmproduktion
