Yama Rahimi

Gael Metroz makes a stunning debut with this documentary that traces a Swiss traveller and writer Nicolas Bouvier's route from Geneva all the way to Sri Lanka.

A powerful documentary about a 14 acre garden in Los Angeles that was at the center of a decade long dispute, The Garden details how a piece of land in South Central which was once considered a wasteland by the owner, good for garbage or warehouses by the city, but was turned into a lush garden by a mostly Latino community. After a dubious deal between the city and the owner, the gardeners are driven out but not without a fight which is at heart of this film by multi-tasking writer and director Scott Hamilton Kennedy.

A superb existential thriller that haunts you long after you’ve left the theater, writer/director Götz Spielmann cleverly uses the thriller genre to dig deep into the psyche of his characters.

Among the better selections we have Aida Begic's profound and poetic film "Snow," Souad El-Bouhati's identity and coming-of-age drama "French Girl," Dante Lam's heartpounding thriller "The Beast Stalker," Esther Rots' psychological drama that "Can Go Through Skin," Gael Metroz's stunning documentary "Nomad's Land," and finally, the award-winning rom com from Marc Webber called "500 Days of Summer".

Further proof that the Israeli cinema is thriving, and continues to deliver thought-provoking portraits, the Mill Valley Film closed with the smashing film Lemon Tree. The drama demonstrates that Israeli and Palestinian can live and work together, at least in the artistic community.