The 2012 Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival: Faces of Others

When dawn breaks, a deaf couple is seen furiously arguing in sign language as they discover that their young nephew, Arshia, has been abandoned by his parents in the night. (Directed by Morteza Farshbaf | Iran | 2011 | 85 min.)

+ Reception

The 2012 Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival: Faces of Others

Through five video cameras, Palestinian farmer Emad Burnat captures the different angles and developing story of his village's resistance to Israeli oppression. (Directed by Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi | The Netherlands/France/Israel/Palestine | 2011 | 90 min.)

+ Director Emad Burnat is scheduled to appear
+ Reception

The 2012 Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival: Faces of Others

The 2012 Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival: Faces of Others

El Sicario, Room 164 explores the terrifyingly casual roots of evil through the eyes of an unnamed, former "el sicario”a hit man and enforcer for a drug cartel in Ciudad Juárez who once kidnapped and tortured someone in the very room in which Gianfranco Rosi films this thrilling documentary. (France/United States | 2011 | 80 min.)

The 2012 Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival: Faces of Others

Alps is a mysterious and unique organization that provides an unusual service to relatives of the recently deceased: its members will take on the role of the dearly departed in order to help people deal with the loss of their loved ones. (Directed by Giorgos Lanthimos | Greece | 2011 | 93 min.)

+ Greek Reception

The 2012 Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival: Faces of Others

As the final segment of a trilogy, Position among the Stars follows the award-winning documentaries Eye of the Day and Shape of the Moon. This film focuses on Tari, a young Indonesian girl who will leave her village and family to receive a proper education. (Directed by Leonard Retel Helmrich | The Netherlands | 2010 | 111 min.)

+ Skype session with Director Leonard Retel Helmrich

The 2012 Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival: Faces of Others

Standing in an old factory in Germany with historical footage projected on either side of him, German politician Joschka Fischer recounts his extraordinary personal story literally against the backdrop of 60 years of German history. (Directed by Pepe Danquart | Switzerland/Germany | 2011 | 138 min.)

+ Director Pepe Danquart is scheduled to appear
+ Reception

The 2012 Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival: Faces of Others

Girl with Black Balloons follows first-time director Corinne van der Borch into the Chelsea Hotel in New York City where she befriends an eccentric woman by the name of Bettina. (Directed by Corinne van der Borch | United States/The Netherlands | 2011 | 63 min.)

+ Director Corinne van der Borch is scheduled to appear
+ Distinctively Dutch Film Festival opening reception

The 2012 Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival: Faces of Others

Russia's Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, is often perceived as being a tyrant by Westerners, however, to many Russians, especially the youth, he embodies the qualities of a strong, charismatic father figure. (Directed by Lise Birk Pederson | Denmark/Russia | 2011 | 82 min.)

+ Special Guest

The 2012 Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival: Faces of Others

The event will present selected student submissions from around the world and feature a reception with food. This exciting opportunity is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at accredited institutions, and its aim is to gather student perspectives on issues surrounding the concept of 'the Other'. Three top prizes (First Prize: $1000, Second Prize: $500, Third Prize: $250) will be awarded and an Honorable Mention will be announced.