The 12th United Nations Association Film Festival in Palo Alto, Stanford University, East Palo Alto and San Francisco, gives Bay Area residents a chance to broaden their understanding of the world through film.

The festival, which will continue between Oct. 17-25, provides an opportunity to see more unique films, such as Crips and Bloods: Made in America, a documentary about Los Angeles gangs directed by Stacey Peralta, or Garbage Dreams, a film following the lives of several teenage boys growing up in the outskirts of Cairo, the largest garbage village in the world.

Some students feel that the festival is also more convenient than going to the movie theater.

“[Watching movies at Stanford] is much more convenient, since we live right next to Stanford,” Paly senior Emily Barry said.

According to the festival’s Web site this year’s theme is “Energy and the World,” but the festival will focus on several important issues our society faces today including “human rights, environmental themes, women’s issues, protection of refugees, homelessness, racism, children, disease control, universal education, war and peace.”

According to the website, the UNAFF gives four awards: the Stanford Video Award for Cinematography, the Stanford Video Award for Editing, the UNAFF Grand Jury Award, and Best Long Documentary.

The schedule of movies being shown can be found here.