Those observers said this year's movie offerings seemed more socially relevant and more likely to call for enhanced global consciousness from attendees, The Washington Post (NYSE:WPO) reported Saturday.

Festival co-director Noah Cowan acknowledged several entries in this year's festival had a recurring theme of global awareness and an individual's part in that process.

"There were films of political consequence," Cowan said, "films that dealt with the culture clash in our own countries in the Western world and work that spoke to what happens to your identity when you start to hate the world."

Among such thought-provoking films at the festival was director Thomas McCarthy's "The Visitor," which focused on the controversial topic of illegal immigration.

Director Fatih Akin, meanwhile, focused on such heavy topics as sexual politics and xenophobia in his film entry,"The Edge of Heaven," the Post said.