RESCUE - TV and online content

ongoing

RESCUE is a bold, character-driven documentary developed as a European co-production between Elk Film (Denmark), Fluid Produzioni (Italy), Kloos & Co. Medien (Germany), and Akkeri Films (Iceland). Marking the 10th anniversary of the Malta Declaration, which some critics have characterised as outsourcing EU border control to Libya, the film offers a rare, cinematic investigation into the human consequences of Europe’s migration policies—told through the intimate story of a Yemeni family shattered by Libya’s militia-run detention system. Unlike other Mediterranean migration films, RESCUE uniquely blends in-depth field research with a compelling visual and emotional narrative. Directed by Sine Plambech and Janus Metz, it draws on Plambech’s two decades of anthropological work on human trafficking and displacement. With exclusive access to MSF’s Geo Barents, the largest rescue ship in the Mediterranean, the film adopts a detective-story format to follow the disappearance of a kidnapped woman and her children—exposing the link between EU-funded border control and the violent economy of detention and trafficking. The project’s cross-border collaboration enhances the creative and market reach of all partners. Italy provides location, editorial depth, and emerging talents like assistant director Kais Zriba and cinematographer Marco Vignoni. Germany leads post-production and market strategy, with editing by Marion Tuor. Iceland takes a lead on sound design. The powerful North-to-South production chain fosters a layered understanding of migration from departure to arrival, and creates a shared creative dialogue across Europe’s cultural and political landscape. Backed by Creative Europe MEDIA and highlighted at EBU pitch and CPH:DOX Forum, RESCUE has secured interest from DR, SVT, NRK, VPRO, and VRT, and finalising talks with RTS, ZDF/ARTE, and the BBC. DR Sales handles global distribution, aiming at a broad, transnational audience across age, culture, gender, and national boundaries in Europe, and globally.