Mediterranea by Jonas Carpignano is the opening film of this year’s Stockholm Film Festival. The film will also participate in the prestigious Stockholm XXVI Competition, competing for the Bronze Horse.

Mediterranea, starring Koudous Seihon and Alassane Sy och Aisha, is the story of two young men leaving their home country Burkina Faso to make the dangerous trip over the Mediterranean to Italy. Carpignano’s feature film debut is a touching portrayal of African migrants in Italy, building upon his previous short films A Chjàna (2012) and Young Lions of Gypsy (2014). The film is connected to this year’s Spotlight theme Migration.

“I’ve always loved Stockholm, both the city and the festival, so it is a great honor to have been selected as the opening film of the festival. This film is five years in the making, and there were moments when we didn’t know if it would ever get finished. The fact that it’s out there, and that it can play on a stage as big as that of the Stockholm Film Festival is surreal and humbling,” says Jonas Carpignano, director of Mediterranea.

Jonas Carpignano visited Stockholm Film Festival 2014, competing in Stockholm XXV Short Film Competition with his short film Young Lions of Gypsy (2014).

The 26th Stockholm International Film Festival will take place November 11 to 22, 2015