Born in Asmara, Eritrea, in 1964. He moved to New York, where he graduated from the New York University Film School in 1985. Following a journey to India in 1993, he produced and directed "Boatman", his first movie. After the short "Afterwards" (2008), Rosi directed features awarded as best film in festivals such as the Venice International Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival, and Visions du Réel: "Below Sea Level" (2008), "Sacro GRA" (2013), and "Fire at Sea" (2016), also nominated for the Oscar for Best Documentary.