Netflix unveils film about migrant rescue NGO starring Louis Hofmann

Netflix has unveiled the upcoming film about real-life German NGO Jugend Rettet and its ship, the Iuventa, which rescued thousands of migrants in the Mediterranean in 2016 before being seized by Italian authorities.

In-demand actor Louis Hofmann – whose credits include: DarkRipley, Master of the air, All the light we can’t see, and can be seen soon Monstrous beauty opposite Bella Ramsay – leads the cast.

Netflix has released a first image of the film, which is currently filming in Malta after starting production in Berlin. The film follows a series of successful German productions for Netflix, including the Oscar-winning one Things are quiet on the Western Front and Emmy-winning series The Empress.

The film tells the true story of the founding of Jugend Rettet in 2015 by a group of young Berliners who felt compelled to do something about the thousands of people who died in the Mediterranean while trying to reach Europe via unofficial routes .

Inexperienced but driven by passion and courage, they launch a crowdfunding campaign to buy an old ship, the Iuventa. Its volunteers successfully rescued 14,000 people in 2016, but that work stalled after the ship was seized by Italy in 2017.

Seven of its members then found themselves in a delicate legal battle with the Italian authorities, who tried to portray their humanitarian actions as crimes.

The film was directed by Markus Goller and Oliver Ziegenbalg wrote the screenplay together with Michele Cinque.

Production designer Christian Goldbeck and composer Volker Bertelmann, who won Oscars for their work Things are quiet on the Western Frontare involved in the production, while Frankie DeMarco coordinates the camera work.

Producers are Christopher Zwickler at Flute Film, Goller and Oliver Ziegenbalg at Sunnysideup Filmproduktion.

Creative producer is Michele Cinque from Lazy Film in Italy. Skadi Lesske and Astrid Weber are responsible for hair and make-up, Mika Braun for costume design.

Other actors: Mala Emde (And tomorrow the whole world), Katharina Stark (German house), Frederick Lau (rogue), Maria Dragus, Trevor Magaya, Kathy Etoa, Felice, Saibon Wang, Joone Dankou, Merlin von Garnier, Luisa-Céline Gaffron and Omid Memar as well as Corinna Harfouch, Ulrich Matthes, Franka Potente, Katja Riemann, Frank Plasberg, Herbert Knaup and Eleonora Romandini in guest roles.