Fire at Sea

The Italian island of Lampedusa has become the front line of the refugee crisis in Europe, with some 400,000 desperate migrants from Africa and the Middle East having landed there in the past 20 years. This strangely beautiful, sometimes bleak documentary contrasts their existence with the lives of the islanders, now forever altered. Preceded by the short film HOW WE CHOOSE Directed by Alexandria Bombach After years of war, concrete blockades, corruption, suicide bombings and the departure of friends and family for safer countries, there are few opportunities left in Kabul, Afghanistan. How We Choose follows several people as they grapple with the heart-wrenching decision to leave their motherland — some illegally — and start over again in a new country. The optimists who stay do so because of their desire to bring about positive change and to help create a hopeful future where suicide attacks are not part of daily life. 15 min.