Refugee crisis documentary 'Fire at sea' wins the Golden Bear

A refugee crisis documentary has clinched the top prize at the Berlin International Film Festival. The festival said on Saturday afternoon (local time) that it awarded the Golden Bear prize to “Fire at Sea,” an Italian documentary film.

The documentary film depicts the suffering of a 12-year-old boy on the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa, where many asylum seekers from Africa and the Middle East arrive. It is the first time that a documentary film has won the Golden Bear prize, highlighting the reality of refugees and presenting alternatives. Italian director Gianfranco Rosi, 52, (see picture) is also an immigrant from Eritrea in Northeastern Africa.

김윤종기자 zozo@donga.com