Irish Documentary, Shooting the Mafia, Wins Award at the Berlinale
Posted: 18th February 2019
Congratulations to the team behind new Irish documentary, Shooting the Mafia, which received third prize in the Panorama Audience Awards at the Berlinale following its European premiere at the festival.
Directed by Kim Longinotto, Shooting the Mafia, unflinchingly explores the stark reality of life, and death, under the oppressive yoke of the Corleonesi Mafia. Photographer Letizia Battaglia stood up to the Mafia and it is through her lens that we enter this world of ritualised slaughter, omertà, semi-religious oppression and feudal control.
The documentary, which received its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January, paints a picture that is in sharp contrast to the all-pervasive romanticised and glamorised media image of the Sicilian Mafia.
The scale of the Mafia’s brutality and power is revealed through a combination of rare archive footage, newsreel and personal photographs and memories. The power of Letizia's photography and the bravery and dedication of people like her helped to finally bring to an end the brutal reign of a bunch of small town thugs who's reign of fear reached as far as the Italian presidency.
The documentary is directed by Kim Longinotto and produced by Niamh Fagan for Lunar Pictures and was supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland.