The Best in Contemporary World Cinema

November 29 - December 10

Meet the Makers of Faces

Southside Works Cinema (map)

The University Center at
Carnegie Mellon (map)

Regent Square Theater of
Pittsburgh Filmmakers (map)

Ticket Prices:

  • Opening Night with Reception: $10 / $5 student
  • Regular Admission: $7 / $3 student
  • Closing Night with Reception: $10 / $5 student
  • Full Access Festival Pass: $35 / $20 student
The ticket price is the same for films with an appearance by the director.

 

“ Democracy forever teases us with the contrast between its ideals and its realities, between its heroic possibilities and its sorry achievements."

-Agnes Repplier, American Essayist

As theoreticians equate democracy with peace, and superpowers pledge to bring freedoms to smaller nations, we the people find ourselves vexed by our own governmental system. Living somewhere between a democratic reality and idealized possibilities, have we come to take our rights for granted? Could we look into the eyes of other age-old democracies and say that freedom is our common foundation? Could we look into the heart of a transitioning democracy and say that we too had to earn our unalienable rights? Could we look into the soul of the oppressed and tell them to carry on the noble fight for freedom? If we could look into the Faces of Democracy, what would they tell us?

Each face would represent a different geographic location, a different socio-economic class, a different religious affiliation, a different gender, a different age... a different perspective! An Israeli, Latin American, or African face of democracy might tell us of the forces that try to uproot its democratic stems. A Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, or Polish face might tell us of its recent, bittersweet embrace of democracy. An Iraqi or Afghan face might tell us of its daily struggles towards democracy, which, paradoxically, has been both imposed and welcomed. The faces are willing to talk. Are you ready to see through their eyes and hear their stories?

Carnegie Mellon University invites you to participate in an alternative approach to understanding the diversity of democracy. The Faces of Democracy International Film Festival questions the meaning of freedom in various countries and cultures through guest presenters, award-winning short films, documentaries and feature films including: My Country, My Country, Faces of Change, State of Fear, Avenge But One of My Two Eyes, Black Gold, Stolen Eyes, Foundation, Czech Dream, Red Colored Grey Truck, Your Name is Justine and I Love You.

As Brazilian educator Paulo Freire said, "Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world." This festival attempts to deal critically and creatively with the global reality it confronts and challenges viewers to take its complex issues beyond the theater for both contemplation and action.

 

 

New Events Announced (Dec. 7) Faces of Democracy is proud to deliver the following events:

  • Advanced Filmmaker Workshop with visiting director Franco de Pena
    Pittsburgh Filmmakers, Friday, Dec. 8, 11:30 am
    Open to people with an advanced background in filmmaking.
  • Spanish discussion with visiting director Franco de Pena
    Tango Cafe, Saturday, Dec. 9, 3:30 pm
    What do you get when a Venezuelan economics student abandons his studies for a life in Montreal, Paris, London and Berlin...? (more)
  • Special Workshop with visiting director Filip Bajon
    Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Monday, Dec. 11, 1:00 pm
    Filip Bajon, director of Foundation and a graduate of the famed Lódz Film School, is one of Poland's most innovative film & television directors. (more)

Faces of Democracy is bringing 11 of the best films in contemporary world cinema to Pittsburgh. The festival is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend. Almost all of the films will be Pittsburgh premieres, and I Love You will be an American premiere.

View the gallery: Pictures of Faces, updated as the festival continues.

If you live in Pittsburgh, you have probably seen Faces of Democracy posters hanging in some of your favorite shops and restaurants. View the Photo Journal by Cory Gavin of some of these locations.

Did You Know? Faces of Democracy is being organized by a group of students at Carnegie Mellon University. Read more about the Faces Behind the Scenes.

My Country, My Country is on the short list of films in contention for the Oscar for Best Documentary. Read more at Variety.com.

Faces of Democracy has partnered with the Cape May New Jersey State Film Festival to bring Czech Dream to their film festival. Read more at SouthJersey.com.

Enjoy a preview of the festival from Andrew R. Horbal's blog.

Unique to Faces of Democracy will be the participation of several of the films' directors, who will present and discuss their movies with the audience.

Mark your calendars for November 29 - December 3 and December 7 - 10. The venues of the festival are South Side Works Cinema (accessible via 59U and 54C bus lines from CMU), the McConomy Auditorium in the University Center at Carnegie Mellon University, and the Regent Square Theater of Pittsburgh Filmmakers.

Each feature-length or documentary film will be preceded by a recent outstanding student short film from the most prestigious schools in the world.

Also browse the Carnegie Mellon Humanities Center at: www.hss.cmu.edu/humanitiescenter/

If you're planning to stay in Pittsburgh, maybe a timeshare will work for you.

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