Empire of Silver is a melodramatic, historical film that paints a picture of China in 1899, a major turning point in Chinese history as modernity begins to take over the Qing Dynasty rule, leaving new heir Third Master in charge of keeping the dynasty alive while trying to stay loyal to his father.

Though their journey spans all three hours, the majority of the film consists of flashbacks of their years in engineering school, a series of anecdotes in which the three friends inflict their insanity upon the uptight dean and manage to always learn something profound in the process.

In this beautifully made documentary, viewers are transported to the Hawaiian Islands where they meet outrigger paddling guru Kimokeo Kapahulehua, who is on a mission to reconnect with his ancestors and spread Hawaiian culture.

“Summer Wars” is an animated feature from Mamoru Hosoda, the director of “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.” It takes place in what appears to be an alternate present, in which everyone is connected via OZ, a digital world that resembles a hyper-evolved Facebook.

The documentary film “Resilience,” shown at this year’s Pacific Rim Film Festival, presented a touching hour of two families and cultures coalescing across national borders, in spite of the thousands of miles between them.

Trekking and climbing Nepal’s mountains is some climbers’ dream, but when a group of 100 climbers witness Chinese border agents shooting and killing Tibetan refugees in 2006, their adventure becomes a nightmare. Tibet: Murder in the Snow, is a new documentary based on the experiences of the mountaineers and the Tibetans whose lives were forever altered after being part of this tragedy.

For those unfamiliar with Japanese culture, Shodo Girls gives a unique look into the art of calligraphy as we watch a group of high school students enter a calligraphy competition involving music and dance.