Finland's Aki Kaurismaki wins best director at Berlin fest

Finnish director and screenwriter Aki Kaurismaki (C), Simon Hussein Al-Bazoon (R) and Syrian-Finnish actor Sherwan Haji (L) arrive on the red carpet ahead of the awards ceremony of the 67th Berlinale film festival in Berlin on February 18, 2017

Finland's Aki Kaurismaki clinched best director at the Berlin film festival for his refugee comedy "The Other Side of Hope", a call for compassion towards migrants seeking asylum in Europe. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much," the notoriously taciturn filmmaker said as he picked up the Silver Bear trophy and left the stage.