A global film festival that explores a variety of national and international topics debuts in Kamloops today.

The Kamloops Global Awareness Network presents the first Kamloops Global Film Festival, which takes part in co-operation with Thompson Rivers University’s International Days.

The festival is co-sponsored by the World Community Development Education Society and features films from the Travelling World Community Film Festival, said Sarah Johnstone, regional co-ordinator for the global awareness network.

The festival at the Clocktower theatre features nine short films and a feature documentary that cover issues of sustainability, fair trade, social justice and the global economy.

Johnstone said the first screening starts at 10:30 a.m. Thursday and goes until 2:20 p.m. An evening showing commences at 6:30 p.m. Saturday’s films begin at 12:30 p.m. with the final film presented at 7 p.m.

Admission is free. A full schedule and descriptions of the films can be found at www.kgan.org.