Northwestern’s Global Languages Initiative began screenings last week for a yearlong international film series, according to a University news release.

The film series “Passport to Global Cinema: Contemporary International Films” kicked off Friday with a showing of the Russian film “Elena” at Block Cinema. The series is being funded through a grant from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, according to the release.

The Global Languages Initiative, which seeks to promote multilingual and intercultural skills across NU’s campus, will have its next screening, “Sister,” Nov. 2.

Admission to the movie screenings is free for all NU students, $4 for NU faculty and staff and $6 for the general public.

— Lauren Caruba