Two student films from UH Manoa's Academy for Creative Media have been selected for screening at the Riverside, Calif., International Film Festival, April 11 through April 20.

"Atonement" by Seong Kyu Whang and "My Brother's Keeper" by Russell Blanchard will join films from the U.S., Spain, Lebanon, Australia, and the Philippines.

Both films were featured in the 2007 Hawai'i International Film Festival.

"ACM has enjoyed a solid relationship with the Riverside Festival, now 6 years old," said Tom Brislin, ACM chair. "They are very discriminating and accept only the top student films. This is the second year our students have received this honor."

Both films explore darker themes – poverty, crime, and addiction – that are balanced by redemption through character relationships.

"These are dynamic stories," Brislin said. "The festival made an excellent choice."