dir. Gianfranco Rosi / Italy / 2016 / 114 minutes

Presented in partnership with the Italian Canadian Cultural Association.

The Italian island of Lampedusa is the setting of this documentary, which won the Golden Bear at Berlinale — the first time a documentary has ever won the top award. As a common point of entry into Europe for hundreds of refugees from Africa and the Middle East, Lampedusa provides a stunning cultural crossroads for director Gianfranco Rosi to explore humanity and everyday life in naturalistic, poignant ways. Samuele, a 12-year-old boy who lives on the island, serves as the focal point as the film dives into the history of residents and refugees alike. Two different worlds are brought together by a global crisis, a timely topic that Rosi delicately handles to heartbreaking effect.

This screening will be introduced by Ruben Zaiotti, Director of the European Union Centre of Excellence and associate professor in Political Science at Dalhousie University. Ruben is the author of the book "Cultures of Border Control: Schengen and the Evolution of European Frontiers" and other publications and commentaries on migration and refugees in Europe.