The second annual Global Lens Film Festival, with features from China, Lebanon, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Brazil, Israel/Palestine, Venezuela and Argentina, begins Monday at the Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Academy of Arts. Tickets are $7 general, $5 museum members. 532-8768.

The films:

"Stolen Life (Shen Si Jie)"; directed by Li Shaohong. China, 2005; 90 minutes. In Mandarin with English subtitles.

In Beijing, the reclusive Yanni is accepted to college, much to the surprise of her hostile household. But her life takes a turn after an encounter with a delivery boy.

7:30 p.m. Monday; 1 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday

"In The Battlefields (Dans les Champs de Bataille)"; directed by Danielle Arbid, Lebanon, 2004; 90 minutes, unrated. In Arabic with English subtitles.

Wartime 1980s Beirut is the backdrop for a story about relationships, loyalty and power, as Lina, 12, focuses on Siham, her aunt's beautiful young maid.

1 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; 1, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24

"The Night of Truth (La Nuit de la Vérité)"; directed by Fanta Régina Nacro. Burkina Faso, 2004, 100 minutes, unrated. In Dioula, French with English subtitles.

Peace is promised in a fictitious African nation after a decade of civil war as rebels and government forces gather to lay down their weapons.

1, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 25; 1 p.m. Nov. 26

"Max and Mona"; directed by Teddy Mattera. South Africa, 2004, 98 minutes, unrated. In English, Afrikaans, Zulu with English subtitles.

Slapstick comedy finds Max, 19, from a South African farming community, who has a talent for mourning. But he wants to be a doctor, and so he travels to Johannesburg to begin his studies. Complications set in.

7:30 p.m. Nov. 27; 1 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28

"Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures (Cinema, Aspirinas e Urubus)"; directed by Marcelo Gomes. Brazil, 2005, 99 minutes, unrated. In German, Portuguese with English subtitles.

A buddy road film: In 1942 an aspirin salesman and a rural Brazilian develop a deep friendship.

1 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29-30

"Almost Brothers (Quase Dois Irmœos)"; directed by Lœcia Murat, Brazil, 2004, 102 minutes, unrated. In Portuguese with English subtitles.

The story of two men who have deep ties despite their divergent adulthood: white, middle-class Miguel, and black favela-dweller Jorge.

1, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1-2

"Border Café (Café Transit)"; directed by Kambozia Partovi. Iran, 2005, 105 minutes, unrated. In Greek, Persian, Turkish with English subtitles.

An independent-minded Iranian widow goes against social norms by re-opening her late husband's roadside diner on the border between Turkey and Iran.

1, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4

"Thirst (Atash)"; directed by Tawfik Abu Wael. Israel/Palestine, 2004, 110 minutes, unrated. In Arabic with English subtitles.

An Arab family collapses under the rule of its patriarch. Named best film at the Jerusalem Film Festival and a prize winner at Cannes.

1 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5, 7

GLOBAL LENS SHORT FILM PROGRAM

Adama Roamba's "Source of History" (Burkina Faso); Ashvin Kumar's "Little Terrorist" (India); Zheng Zheng's "Harvest Time" (China); Lorenzo Vigas Castes' "Elephants Never Forget" (Venezuela) and Lautaro Nuñez de Arco's "More than the World" (Argentina).

L1 and 4 p.m. Dec. 8; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10