The Global Peace Film Festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with a roster of thought-provoking films and art exhibits around Central Florida designed to inspire attendees to further the cause of peace on earth.
This year’s event kicks off at Enzian at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 20 with a screening of “World Peace and Other 4th Grade Achievements,” a 2010 documentary about an innovative teacher who challenges students to participate for eight weeks in the World Peace Game.
The weeklong festival runs through Sept. 25 and includes a total of 36 film screenings, including the debut of FusionFest’s “MYgration Films,” which features local filmmakers telling personal stories of how their heritage has shaped them.
Orlando-based films that will be shown at this year’s festival include “Surviving Pulse: Life After a Mass Shooting,” which premiered earlier this year at the Florida Film Festival, as well as “Happy Valentine’s Day” from a Rollins College sophomore who survived the Parkland shooting.
Screenings will be held at a variety of venues, including Enzian, CMX Cinemas Plaza Café, the Winter Park Public Library and the Bush Auditorium and Galloway Room at Rollins College.
In addition to film screenings, this year’s anniversary edition of the Global Peace Film Festival also includes the installation of a student art exhibit at the Orange County Administration Center’s Atrium Gallery. Artwork displayed is from Orange County Public School students K-12, and juried selections will be featured in a print calendar and on a GoPegasus luxury coach bus. Those who can’t make it to see the submissions in person can check out an online gallery at peacefilmfest.org/student-peace-art-exhibit-2022.
Local artist Victor Bokas is also debuting a new exhibition, “Conflict,” at CityArts in downtown Orlando as part of the festival. This exhibit features a series of prints that are “packed with subliminal messages that make the viewer think more deeply about social global issues impacting today’s society,” according to the official description.
What Hugh Knew Teaser from Ted Haines on Vimeo.
This year will also include a Peace Pitch at the Enzian on Sept. 22, where award-winning Orlando filmmaker Todd Thompson will present footage from his in-progress documentary “What Hugh Knew,” followed by a talkback session and Q&A.
Passes for this year’s festival are available now and range from $60 for a weekend ticket, to $125 for an all-access pass. Virtual screening passes for the week of Sept. 26-Oct. 2 are also available for $20 for a five-film pass, $40 for 10 films or $80 for an unlimited pass. More information is available at peacefilmfest.org.
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