Italian documentary "Fire at Sea" wins Berlinale Golden Bear

BERLIN, Feb 21 (KUNA) -- The powerful Italian documentary "Fire at Sea" seized Golden Bear at the 66th edition of Berlin International Film Festival "Berlinale" that shows about 400 films per year.
The Festival's jury president Meryl Streep described the winning documentary that focused on hardships of asylum seekers from Africa and the Middle East as "urgent, imaginative and necessary filmmaking." Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize went to "Death in Sarajevo" by Danis Tanovic, Silver Bear for Best Director went to the French Mia Hansen-Love for her film "Things to Come," Silver Bear for Best Actress was won by Danish actress Trine Dyrholm in the film "The Commune" and the Silver Bear for Best Actor was won by the Tunisian actor Mohamed Ben Attia in film "Inhebbek Hedi." The Berlinale Festival is considered a great cultural event and one of the most important dates for the international film industry.
More than 330,000 sold tickets, more than 20,000 professional visitors from 128 countries, including more than 3,700 journalists: art, glamour, parties and business are all inseparably linked at the Berlinale. (end) anj.nfm