By Julia O’Donnell

December 1, 2010 - Film festivals showcase local, Turkish, Jewish, Japanese and Romanian culture throughout the month.

Downtown Film Festival
The New York City Downtown Film Festival runs until December 8 at the Duo Multicultural Arts Center. Their motto, “No red carpets, no judges, just great films,” translates from the New York City Downtown Short Film Festival as the Festival moves to feature films. Information about featured films and scheduling is available at http://duotheater.org/film.php.

New York Turkish Film Festival
The 12th Annual New York Turkish Film Festival takes place from December 3 to 5 this year, held in collaboration with the Moon and Stars Foundation. All screenings are held at the SVA Theatre, beginning with Mommo – an award-winning film chronicling the troubles of young siblings in Central Turkey. Schedule and ticket information are available at http://www.newyorkturkishfilmfestival.com.

Takemitsu Film Festival
The Film Forum hosts the Takemitsu Film Festival from December 3 to 16. The Festival showcases movies scored by legendary Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu. More information about the event can be found at http://www.filmforum.org/films/takemitsu.html.

Romanian Film Festival
The 5th Annual Romanian Film Festival will take place from December 3 to 5 at Tribeca Cinemas. The Festival seeks to present the best and most recent films from Romania’s contemporary cinema. This year’s event features films from directors of Romania’s “New Wave” with a focus on the representation of women in post-communist Romania. More information can be found at http://www.icrny.org/290-5th_Romanian_Film_Festival_in_NYC.html.

Jewish Museum’s High School Film Festival
The Jewish Museum’s High School Film Festival runs from December 6 to 9. The free festival offers students the chance to view films about tolerance, culture and identity. For more information, visit http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/HighSchoolFilmFestival.