Gianfranco Rosi's 'Fuocoammare' was among five films nominated Tuesday for the best documentary Oscar this year. Golden Bear winner 'Fuocoammare' ('Fire at the Sea'), was shot on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa during the European migrant crisis, and sets the migrants' dangerous Mediterranean crossing against a background of the ordinary life of the islanders. Its rivals for the best doc gong are I Am Not Your Negro, Life Animated, OJ: Made in America, and 13th. The Oscars will be held on February 26.

Rosi said the news gave him a "thrill, this has been a wonderful year". He said from Tokyo, where he is promoting the film, that "taking Lampedusa to Hollywood is a very beautiful thing". Rosi said "I didn't believe any more because of all the predictions, I knew it would be a battle until the end, nothing could be taken for granted."