Keeping it reel...

Today's highlights include two critically acclaimed films in The Counterfeiters, and Rendition. The former was in competition in Berlin, and is the Austrian entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Rendition tells the story of an Egyptian-American who mysteriously disappears, suspected of a terrorist act by the CIA. This thriller fearlessly explores the grey area between right and wrong. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal and Meryl Streep, it should not be missed.

Inside scoop: In considering the overall slate, it's important to combine a selection of critically acclaimed films, crowd pleasing movies, a taste of international cinema, and a collection of regional projects. This requires a group of MEIFF screeners who review the 700 plus submissions, as well as team of international programmers who solicit top films playing the

World's top film festivals.

The programming committee then reviews the highest-rated films and we make our final roster. Many of these films will not find theatrical distribution in the region. Therefore, the festival will give local audiences an opportunity to discover films they would not otherwise have had a chance to see.

Grab the opportunity.