The Fisherman of Lesbos (2016)

Fishing used to relax Kostas Pinteris, one of the fishermen at the picturesque village of Skala Sykamias. He's been fishing since he was a kid and knows the sea well. But, for the last two years his life has changed. As the Greek island of Lesbos is at the forefront of the European refugee crisis, boatload after boatload of men, women, and children fleeing conflict in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere arrive on its shores. While volunteers, NGOs, and governments claim much of the spotlight for rescue and recovery efforts, local people-especially those most experienced on the water-play a vital role, even at risk to their livelihoods and, perhaps, personal health. The memories of the shipwrecks hunts Pinteris and the rest of the fishermen. More than 5,000 asylum-seekers have perished in the Mediterranean Sea only in 2016, the highest number in recent years. Greek filmmaker Nikolia Apostolou introduces us to Lesbos fishermen on the front lines.