The film explores the experiences of African and South Asian migrants traveling across the Mediterranean Sea from Libya and their efforts to build new lives in Europe.
Through static shots and natural lighting, the film captures their everyday struggles, from cooking and bathing to religious practices and the looming threat of eviction.
The second segment, "Sea & Passage," shifts focus to the NGO Médecins Sans Frontières rescue ship Geo Barents, documenting its efforts to save migrants crossing the Mediterranean.
[2] Sam Abbas directed Europe's New Faces with an observational, minimalist approach, eschewing traditional documentary storytelling methods such as voiceover narration or talking-head interviews.
[3] [4] Europe's New Faces premiered on February 28, 2025, at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York as part of the institution's Doc Fortnight series.