International Festival returns this month with a number of events

Cornell's International Students Programming Board (ISPB) is coordinating the annual International Festival during April, beginning this week.

Festival events include:

• Flag Painting, today, April 8, 3-5:30 p.m., Big Red Barn.
  Kicking off International Festival '99: Beyond Borders is flag painting. Members of the international community on campus will be able to paint their country's flag on a banner that will be displayed at every event during this year's festival.

• Exhibition, April 9, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Willard Straight Hall, Memorial Room.
  Many of the international groups on campus will converge on the Memorial Room to showcase the unique aspects of their countries' cultural heritage. Los Mensajeros de la Patria, a Venezuelan folk band, will be performing, and samples of food from different parts of the globe will be served throughout the event, which is free.

• Dance Debut, April 16, 8-10 p.m. in Statler Auditorium.
  Many groups will be participating in the Dance Debut -- a free show that has been very well-attended in the past years. The participating groups include: Sitara, Prolific Soul, Nitsots!, Hui Hawaii O Na Cornell, Cornell Malaysian Association, VenCornell, Hellenic Culture Club, The Swing Kids and many more.

• Food Tasting, April 20, 6-8 p.m. in the Biotechnology Building G-10, $5.
  Every year several international organizations on campus come together to offer a taste of their countries. This event has a become a campus tradition, not only for its great food but for its culturally diverse atmosphere.

• Film Festival, April 21, 22, 28 and 30, Cornell Cinema, $3.
  The International Film Festival brings movies from Italy, Turkey, Tunisia, Russia and Iran, as well as feature several East-Asian films. For film schedules, see the Chronicle calendar or the Cornell Cinema web site at http://cinema.cornell.edu;.

• Soccer Tournament, April 25, noon, Ramin Multi-Purpose Room in the Field House.
  ISPB presents an indoor, five-on-a-side coed soccer tournament. Participants are encouraged to represent their home countries so that the arena comes alive with soccer patriotism, reminiscent of the World Cup.