HARRAGA - those who burn their lives


86 min, Documentary







Imad, Nourdine, Walid and Hamza live in a stone cave under a lighthouse in Melilla. Every night, the Moroccan teenagers break into the nearby port. There, they try to climb unnoticed onto ships bound for the Spanish mainland. They and dozens of other children have formed their own community under the protection of the rocks. Director Benjamin Rost documents the impressive lives of the young people over a period of five years. The film's title describes the widespread practice of illegal North African immigrants burning their papers, and thus their identities, when apprehended by police. A poignant documentary that offers a glimpse into an unknown world. (ZFF; 2023)


'The cinematic long-term portrait shines through humanity and respect. Benjamin Rost tells of young people in limbo, beautiful images of a harsh reality.'
Valeria Wagner, Programmer

‘A film that fits perfectly into the current discussion.’
BR / ARD, Kino Kino

‘This makes the film an honest visual medium that conveys the lives of a large group of Moroccan children who are forced to emigrate due to the difficult living conditions of their families and embark an adventure in which their lives can end “on fire” in the middle of the ocean waves.’
Qais Qasim, Al Jazeera

'We were truly impressed by Benjamin's adeptness in constructing a realm of contrasts. Through a breathtaking lens, we wear witness to the harrowing, at times restless, journey of young migrants attempting to reach Europe. The film evokes profound empathy within us, bridging the gap between their experiences and our own reality, which are miles apart. We are used to a generalizing, anti-migration discourse which denies the existence of individuals - the film does the opposite. '
Zurich Film Festival - Statement 


Director: Benjamin Rost
Co-Author: Hicham Bourais
Cinematographer: Jonas Schneider
Edit: Erec Brehmer
Production: Mark Szilágyi
Associate Production: Seloua El Gouni, Karim Debbagh
Music: Alexander Vicar, Swallox X, Mohammed
Sounddesign and Mixing Volker Armbruster, Timo Letzgus, Marco Schnebel
Comissionung Editor: Marcus Vetter

90 min, SWR / ARD, MfG Baden-Württemberg, MSZ Filmproduction and Consulting, Kasbah Films, developed in Cooperation with Masterschool 2019 at Documentary Campus

This project was supported by the scholarship program of the Free State of Bavaria ‘Young art and new paths’

Click here for Official Website


Festivals: 


19. Zurich Film Festival - Focus Competition
57. Hof International Film Festival - Main Competition
39. Dok.Fest München - nominated German Documentary Film Music Award 
14. Human Rights Film Days Luzern
20. Achtung Berlin Film Festival - Main Competition 
07. MED - Mediterranian Documentary Film Festival - Main Competition
08. DOKU FESTIVAL - nominated for GERMAN DOCUMENTARY FILM AWARD
05. BUZZ IFF - International Film Festival - Feature Documentary Competition
15. FINIFA - Festival Issni N'Ourgh International du Film Amazighe - Main Competition
05. Casablanca Arab Film Festival - Feature Competition 
13. Contra El Silencio Todas Las Voces Mexico - Main Competition 
13. FICMEC Nador - Honorable Mention
29. FICAR Rabat Author Film Festival - International Competition
13. Tangier Film Festival - Main Competition
03. Human Rights Are Universal Arts Festival Kampala - Main Competition
36. Girona Film Festival - Documentary Competition 
33. International Festival of Ethnological Film Belgrade - Main Competition
08. Int. Filmschool Festival Tetouan - Special Screening
12. Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival - Documentary Competition
14. Zuma International Film Festival - Main Competition 
05. Buenos Aires International Film Festival - Main Competition 
08. Bajo Nuestra Piel - Festival Internacional de Cine sobre Derechos Humanos - Documentary Competition

Cinema:

Berlin│13.04.2024│20:30│ACUD *
Berlin│14.04.2024│18:30│Babylon *
München│05.06.2024│20:00│Neues Rottmann *
München│06.06.2024│20:00│Bellevue di Monaco *
Weingarten│07.06.2024│20:15│LINSE Kino *
Regensburg│09.06.2024│15:00│Ostentor Kino *
Bamberg│11.06.2024│18:30│Lichtspiel Kino *
Augsburg│13.06.2024│20:00│Lilliom Kino *
Landshut│15.06.2024│18:00│Kinoptikum *
Ludwigsburg│19.06.2024│17:00│Caligari *
Stuttgart │ 20.06.2024 │22:15│ Cinema *
Leipzig │08.08.2024│21 Uhr│Caracan *
München│09.08.2024│20 Uhr│Neues Rottmann *
Wiesbaden │11.09.2024│18:30│Caligari Kino
Deggendorf │14.01.2025│tba│Lichtspielhaus *
Berlin│15.01.2025 │20:00│Babylon Kino *

The Hague │29.01.2025│tba│Filmhuis *

*with Q+A with Team / Protagonist 



Awards:

Nominated for 08. GERMAN DOCUMENTARY FILM AWARD
65. Dok Leipzig 2020 - Pitching Prize sponsored by Sheffield Doc / Fest
13. FICMEC Nador - Honorable Mention 
05. BUZZ IFF - International Film Festival - Best Documentary 
15. FINIFA - Festival Issni N'Ourgh International du Film Amazighe - Best Director