Finnish director and screenwriter Aki Kaurismaki Simon Hussein Al-Bazoon and Syrian-Finnish actor Sherwan Haji

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.