Events and Programs

The Best of the Fests Film Series

About Best of the Fests

Join us at the Alicia Ashman branch for award-winning independent and foreign films, selected from the worlds top film festivals.  In addition to the featured film, special short films may also be shown.  All screening permissions and art courtesy Film Movement, Inc., unless otherwise noted. www.filmmovement.com. View all Film Movement films currently owned by the public libraries.

Gigante (Urugay. Spanish with English Subtitles)
Friday, Feburary 5 at 7:00 p.m.
refreshments will be served
Register online or call 824-1780 to save a seat!

Jara is a shy and lonely 35-year-old security guard at a supermarket on the outskirts of Montevideo. He works the night shift, monitoring the surveillance cameras of the entire building. One night Jara discovers Julia, a 25-year-old cleaning woman, through one of the cameras and is immediately attracted to her. Night after night, he watches her on the cameras while she works. Soon he starts following her after work: to the cinema, the beach and even to a date with another man. Jara's life becomes a series of routines and rituals around Julia, but eventually he finds himself at a crossroad and must decide whether to give up his obsession or confront it.

For My Father
Friday, February 19 at 7:00 p.m.
refreshments will be served
Register online or call 824-1780 to save a seat!

Tarek, a Palestinian forced on a suicide mission in Tel Aviv to redeem his father's honor, is given a second chance when the fuse on his explosive vest fails to detonate.  Forced to spend the weekend in Tel Aviv awaiting its repair, Tarek must live amongst the people he was planning to kill.  To his surprise he connects with several Israelis on the outskirts of society, including the beautiful Keren, who has cut off contact with her Orthodox family and upbringing.  With nothing to lose, Tarek and Keren open up to one another, and an unlikely love blooms between two isolated and damaged individuals, raised to be enemies.

However, with the deadly load of explosives still strapped to him, he must spend 48 hours in the city, caught between the men that sent him—who can blow up his bomb remotely, the Israeli police patrolling the streets and his new-found companions.  Spending this time with Keren and his new friends, Tarek discovers the spark of life returning to fill his soul, but when the weekend ends, Tarek must make the decision of his life.

Storm (Thriller. Germany. English, German, Bosnian and Serbian, with English subtitles.)
Friday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m.
refreshments will be served
Register online or call 824-1780 to save a seat!

Hannah Maynard, prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague, is leading a trial against a former commander of the Yugoslavian National Army who is accused of the deportation and later killing of dozens of Bosnian-Muslim civilians. When a key witness commits suicide, it looks like the case will unravel, however Hannah refuses to give in.

Hoping to uncover new findings, she travels to the witness' burial in Sarajevo and meets his sister Mira who she senses has much more to say than she is willing to admit.  Despite threats of violence, Mira reluctantly agrees to testify at The Hague. However, she and Hannah must both risk life and limb to make it to the court, only to discover that there are traitors among their own ranks.

Troubled Water (Drama. Norwegian with English subtitles.)
Friday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m.
refreshments will be served
Register online or call 824-1780 to save a seat!

Jan, recently released from prison after serving time for the murder of a child, has always maintained his innocence and is ready to put the past behind him. A gifted organist, he takes a job at an Oslo church under his middle name, Thomas. His talent and gentle manner quickly earn him the respect of his superiors, as well as the love of the pastor, Anna. Thomas even overcomes his initial panic to return the affection of Anna's young son, Jens. But his past catches up with him when Agnes, a local teacher, comes to the church on a school visit and recognizes the organist as Jan, the young man who was convicted for the murder of her son.

Mine (Documentary. U.S.A.)
Friday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m.
refreshments will be served
Register online or call 824-1780 to reserve a seat!

Hailed as "absorbing," "a must see," "Oscar material" and "the best movie at SXSW," MINE is a documentary about the essential bond between humans and animals, set against the backdrop of one of the worst natural disasters in modern U.S. history: Hurricane Katrina. This gripping, character-driven story follows New Orleans residents as they attempt the daunting task of trying to reunite with their pets who have been adopted by families all over the country, and chronicles the custody battles that arise when two families love the same pet. Who determines the fate of the animals—and the people—involved? A compelling meditation on race, class and the power of compassion, MINE examines how we treat animals as an extension of how we view and treat each other.