In the Morning
USA
When a young Turkish woman is brutally attacked, the responsibility of dealing with the criminal act and restoring her family’s honor is left to her 13 year-old brother. Based on a true story, this shocker was written and directed by Danielle Lurie. Danielle graduated from Stanford with a degree in philosophy. Set in Turkey but shot in the filmmaker’s Los Angeles apartment, Lurie’s dramatic and compelling piece brings much needed attention to what has become an urgent and global human rights issue. Cast: Anais Thomassian, JJ Darwish, Al No’mani, Joseph Meieux, Ludwig Manukian and Enrique Renaldo.

Victoria for Chino
USA
Based on a true story, in May 2003, a refrigerated truck carrying more than 80 illegal immigrants drove across the Mexican border into the heartland of Texas with horrifying results. Writer/director Cary Joji Fukunaga graduated from the University of Santa Clara with a degree in history and went on to study film at NYU. This compelling film won an honorable mention at Sundance in 2005. Cast: Aldo de Anda, William McClintark, Domingo Jose Cruz Delgado and Alma Morales.

Three Minutes of Torture
Wales
A disturbing and powerful film based on the true story of a family being held captive by the Nazis in occupied France during World War II. Written and directed by Christopher Morris. Cast: Eddie Ladd, Sharon Morgan, William Thomas.