2017 | Turkey | 115 minutes | Drama

In Onur Saylak's debut feature, fourteen-year-old Gaza helps his domineering father smuggle refugees from war-torn countries to Europe, giving them temporary lodgings and scant food until they attempt the crossing. Gaza dreams of escaping this life, but can't help being drawn into a dark world of immorality, exploitation, and human suffering. Gritty and disturbing, Daha asks the question: can you avoid becoming a monster when you've been raised by one?

2017 | Canada and Iran | 103 Minutes | Drama/Thriller

SYNOPSIS: Sadaf Foroughi's semi-autobiographical film debut focuses on teenager Ava's coming of age in a strict, traditional society and an even more strict, traditional household. After committing an act of rebellion, Ava must navigate her relationship with her parents, peers and teachers as her rage grows against both the people in her life and social restrictions in Iran. Dark and riveting, Ava explores the youths' need to be heard and understood.

Alifu is a Taiwanese-indigenous, twenty-something man who works at a salon in the city. He has a dream—to fully transition into a woman. However, as an only "son" he is under pressure to succeed his father as chief of the tribe. Peizhan, a lesbian and Alifu's roommate and colleague, is always on his side. However, she gradually finds out her feelings toward Alifu are not so platonic after all.

Alice the Prince/ss treats our heroes as human beings yet still captures the struggles of the LGBT community with eloquence and poise.

Join the Asian Studies Center as we welcome the new academic year! This will be a chance to meet the Asian Studies Center staff, mingle with affiliated faculty and students, and learn about opportunities available in the coming year. Refreshments will be served.

George Borjas will present his recent work on the effects of immigration on labor market opportunities revisiting the Mariel Boatlift episodes with a unique data set on monthly job vacancies.

The Japan-US relationship is often described as the most important diplomatic and cultural relationship in the Asia Pacific region. One of the keys to the long alliance and friendship has been the development of frank and open discussions on a wide range of policy issues; those discussions presume well-informed experts on both sides who are familiar with the issues and assumptions of their partners. The New Voices from Japan (NVJ) program addresses a pressing need to develop a new generation who can actively participate in the dialogues.

Annual United Nations simulation event for student teams from area high schools.

Dr. Kunreuther will discuss the South Asian term ‘āwāj’ as a vernacular alternative to global discourses of ‘voice’. While global discourses of voice (in English) rarely turn our attention to the soundings of democracy, the term ‘āwāj’, used in many South Asian languages, refers explicitly to sound and to metaphoric meanings of voice.

Join us for tea and conversation from 2-3 pm in the Cloister. Visit the information and activity tables from Pitt and local community groups. The program will start at 3 pm and include interfaith prayers, a keynote speech, and cultural performances in the Frick Fine Arts Auditorium.

This paper explores the significance of linguistic and cultural regions for the global expansion and localization of digital media platforms. Bringing enduring concerns of cultural difference to bear on digital media in South Asia, I explore the industrial and cultural logics at work when platforms like YouTube recognize and value southern India's linguistic and cultural diversity.