23 000 Lives

23 000 Lives, known in German as 23 000 Leben, is scheduled for release on July 2, 2026. The film centers on a group of young Berliners who, unwilling to remain passive as refugees die attempting to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe, organize a crowdfunding campaign to purchase an old ship and mount their own rescue mission. Though inexperienced, the group sets out into open water and works to save thousands of people. As their operation expands, they are forced to confront questions about the boundaries of law and justice. The film is in German.