Second Multicultural Film Festival

Hotel Rwanda (Rwanda) Date Screened: October 4th, 2007 Rating: 14A Length: 121 minutes Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 26 nominations

In an era of high-speed communication and round the clock news, the horrific events taking place in Rwanda went almost unnoticed by the rest of the world. In only three months, one million people were brutally murdered. In the face of these unspeakable actions, inspired by his love for his family, an ordinary man summoned extraordinary courage to save the lives of over a thousand helpless refugees, by granting them shelter in the hotel he managed.

Tsotsi (South Africa) Date Screened: October 5th, 2007 Rating: 14A Length: 94 minutes Won an Oscar. Another 10 wins & 11 nominations

In the Johannesburg townships of South Africa, a young gang leader steals a car - unaware that a baby is in the backseat - forever changing his life.

Children of Heaven (Iran) Date Screened: October 6th, 2007 Rating: 10+ Length: 89 minutes Nominated for Oscar. Another 10 wins & 2 nominations

Zohre's shoes are gone; her older brother Ali lost them. They are poor, there are no shoes for Zohre until they come up with an idea: they will share one pair of shoes, Ali's. School awaits. Will the plan succeed?

After The Wedding (Denmark) Date Screened: October 7th, 2007 Rating: R Length: 120 minutes Nominated for an Oscar. Another 6 wins & 15 nominations

Jacob Petersen has dedicated his life to helping street children in India. When the orphanage he heads is threatened by closure, he receives an unusual offer. A Danish businessman, Jørgen, offers him a donation of $4 million dollars. There are, however, certain conditions... Not only must Jacob return to Denmark, he must also take part in the wedding of Jørgen's daughter. The wedding proves to be a critical juncture between past and future and catapults Jacob into the most intense dilemma of his life.

The Lives of Others (Germany) Date Screened: October 9th, 2007 Rating: R Length: 137 minutes Won an Oscar. Another 42 wins & 10 nominations

Captain Wiesler is a wiretapping expert with the Stasi (East German Secret Police) in the mid-eighties, who becomes disillusioned with his career and life in general in the former socialist republic when his latest assignment, Georg Dreyman, a playwright with views against the totalitarian state, starts to challenge his beliefs through his overheard conversations.

Water (Canada) Date Screened: October 10th, 2007 Rating: 14A Length: 114 minutes Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 9 nominations

On her way home from visiting her sister, a young woman's car runs low on gas in a dark, rural town where several murders have taken place. She has just enough gas to make it to a secluded gas station, but her relief turns to fear when the gas station attendant acts suspicious.

Sabah (Canada) Date Screened: October 11th, 2007 Rating: R Length: 86 minutes One nomination and one award

One day, when Sabah least expects it, she falls in love with the wrong man. She's Muslim, he's not. Unbeknownst to her family, she goes on a whirlwind affair before both culture and love collide.

The Magdalene Sisters (Ireland) Date Screened: October 12th, 2007 Rating: 14A Length: 119 minutes Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 13 wins & 9 nominations

Three young Irish women struggle to maintain their spirits while they endure dehumanizing abuse as inmates of a Magdalene Sisters Asylum.

The Syrian Bride (Israel) Date Screened: October 13th, 2007 Rating: Family Length: 97 minutes 7 wins & 13 nominations

A Druze woman from Golan Heights, Israel, is engaged to marry a Syrian television star whom she has never met. If she moves to Syria, however, she will never be able to return to her home

Maria Full of Grace (Colombia) Date Screened: October 14th, 2007 Rating: 14A Length: 101 minutes Nominated for Oscar. Another 28 wins & 21 nominations

A pregnant Colombian teenager becomes a drug mule to make some desperately needed money for her family.

This event was sponsored by:

• City of Kitchener
• Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo
• 100.3 FM CKMS
• Waterloo Regional Arts Council
• Tapestry: Celebrations of Diversity