ALI SHAN (Yung Chang | Canada/China | 7 min.)
Watching crowds assemble and quietly file onto a train in the early morning darkness, you begin to suspect that this is no ordinary commute. But you don't yet know why. As profound and satisfying as this journey's ultimate destination is, the images that linger after viewing this intriguing film are the faces of expectant, then exultant, pilgrims to Ali Shan, Taiwan's legendary mountain, also known as "ancestor mountain." This suspenseful and ethereal short film shows us that sharing a primal experience may be the most joyful way to begin the day.

THE POOT (Elham Asadi | Iran | 42 min.)
The Poot serves as a beautifully crafted tribute to the ancient Iranian tradition of carpet weaving, documenting the detail and precision that goes into each hand-loomed creation. No part of the process is overlooked: plants are ground into a range of colorful dyes, sheep are sheared and their wool spun into yarn, which is then plunged into enormous dye baths, plans for the next intricate pattern are diligently designed, rhythmic weaving turns string into mat, and a beautiful artifact takes shape before our eyes. In this pure visual treat, stunning cinematography and an ambient soundscape come together to celebrate handmade work in an age of mass-production.

BORN SWEET (Cynthia Wade | Brooklyn, NY | 28 min.)
Charity organizations dug new wells to provide drinking water for the residents of a remote village in Cambodia, but the water from those wells contained arsenic and many people became sick. Some died. Vinh is an "arsenic boy" of 15 who is weak and has spots on his skin. He longs to fall in love but knows he may not live much longer. Most of all, he dreams of becoming a karaoke star. Evocative and poetic, Born Sweet offers a softer approach to advocacy and an honest look at the unintended consequences of good deeds.

MARIA'S WAY (Anne Milne | Scotland & Spain | 16 min.)
Every day, María Teodora Mediavilla sits at an old desk under two umbrellas along the Way of St. James, greeting the pilgrims and tourists walking or biking to Santiago. Watching the travelers go by, the film’s quiet documentation encourages us to contemplate the mysteries of what constitutes a religious calling.