Among the Clouds
Iran, 2008, 83 min.
In southwest Iran, near the border with Iraq, a resourceful 16-year-old baggage porter becomes smitten with a slightly older Iraqi girl who's not what she seems in this bittersweet drama. Best First Feature, Fajr Film Festival.... more

Ciao Bella
Sweden, 2007, 89 min.
When Iranian-born Swede Mustafa is transformed into Latin lover Massimo, his suave manners and sense of style attract working-class beauty Linnea. This sassily humorous love story manages to address serious issues, including national stereotyping, racism, and an increasingly sexualized youth.... more

Eugene
USA, 2009, 85 min.
Jake Barsha's feature debut is a brilliantly disturbing psychological thriller about a lonely bachelor who befriends a young hustler and his girlfriend, with disastrous results for all involved. Strong performances support Eugene's taut script and beautiful camerawork.... more

Grown Ups
France, 2008, 84 min.
A single French father and his shy teen daughter discover romance — and deal with a shift in their own relationship — during a Swedish summer holiday. Debuting director Anna Novion proves an astute observer of human interactions in this wistfully charming comic drama.... more

Hooked
Romania, 2008, 84 min.
A day in the country becomes a crisis of conscience for two lovers after they hit a prostitute with their car. Presumed dead, she suddenly wakes up, and the couple lies to her about the accident. .... more

Machan
Italy/Sri Lanka, 2008, 109 min.
Based on a real-life event, Machan tells the story of a group of slum dwellers on the margins of society who find an invitation to a handball tournament in Bavaria, and band together to form the unlikely Sri Lanka National Handball Team.... more

Rain
Bahamas, The, 2008, 93 min.
Teenager Rain (Renel Naomi Brown) embarks on a quest to find her mother, whom she has never met, and is devastated by what she finds. Director Maria Govan's powerful debut feature exposes viewers to a side of life in the Bahamas rarely seen by outsiders.... more

The Seven Days
Israel, 2008, 115 min.
When a large clan (a who's who of Israel's finest performers) gathers for the funeral and shiva of a loved one, bitterness and family feuds soon take precedence over mourning. Best Feature, Best Actress, Jerusalem Film Festival.... more

The Shaft
China, 2008, 98 min.
Set amid the imposing mountains of western China, the dreams and disappointments of a family of coalmine workers poignantly reflect the plight of a vast number of ordinary laborers unable to climb the ladder of the country's post-Communist economy.... more

Small Crime
Cyprus, 2008, 85 min.
Small Crime is a sweet romantic comedy that uses humor to portray the mentality of a small Greek island community. When a body is found at the bottom of a cliff, young police officer Leonidas decides to investigate.... more

Unspoken
Belgium, 2008, 97 min.
When something truly heartbreaking happens in a family, the deepest response is often unspoken. A middle-aged Belgian couple struggle with the loss of their daughter five years on.... more

The Wedding Song
Tunisia, 2007, 100 min.
Karin Albou's (Little Jerusalem) sophomore feature confirms her status as a rising star in the art-film firmament. The story of a Muslim girl and a Jewish girl who bond intensely during the Nazi occupation of Tunis is taboo-breaking, sensual and political, all at the same time.... more