Directed by: Enrico Bachmann
Country of Origin: Switzerland
Runtime: 8:42
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are working on the world’s deadliest migration route across the Mediterranean to rescue people whose lives are in danger.
In recent years, the rescue of human lives has become increasingly difficult. Legal restrictions introduced by the maritime authorities to reduce migration flows increase the risks and dangers for people who risk fleeing across the sea. In fact, the number of shipwrecks and deaths has risen sharply since 2020. The rescue operations of NGO ships are becoming increasingly difficult as they have to navigate through a sea of laws and bureaucratic obstacles to avoid serious legal and economic consequences. These could put their simple principle and goal at risk: Saving lives.
A short animation, created in collaboration with SOS Méditerranée Switzerland, introduces the public to a topic that is unknown to many. It encourages viewers to reflect on the fact that NGOs that are committed to saving human lives are always at risk of being penalised for their work.
Enrico Bachmann works as a scientific illustrator in Zurich and Ticino on visual projects in the fields of research visualization, editorial and activism. His practice moves between illustration and animation, with an interest in the relationship between image, knowledge and social responsibility. He works with academic institutions, non-profit organizations, publishers and other actors in the cultural and scientific fields.