Lifeboat (2018 film)

Lifeboat is a 2018 short documentary film directed by Skye Fitzgerald. The film focuses on the work of the German Maritime Rescue Service (Sea-Watch) as they conduct rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea, saving migrants attempting to cross from North Africa to Europe.

The film provides a stark and often harrowing look at the refugee crisis through the eyes of the volunteer rescuers. It follows their efforts to locate and assist overcrowded and often unseaworthy boats carrying men, women, and children, facing the challenges of limited resources, dangerous conditions, and the immense scale of the humanitarian emergency. Lifeboat aims to raise awareness about the plight of migrants risking their lives at sea and the ethical complexities surrounding humanitarian intervention.

The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) at the 91st Academy Awards. It has also won numerous other awards and has been screened at film festivals worldwide.