Cinema for Peace Gala 2024

Honors Pope Francis, Secretary Hillary Clinton, UN SG Ban Ki-moon, Helen Mirren, and the World's Most Influential Filmmakers with Sharon Stone, Pussy Riot, Sir Bob Geldof, Ann Curry, Ukrainian Nobel Peace Laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk, and 102-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Margot Friedländer

The Cinema for Peace Gala 2024 marked a significant gathering of international luminaries and cinematic talent, celebrating the power of film to foster global unity and social change. The prestigious event welcomed over 50 of the world's most influential filmmakers, alongside distinguished guests including Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, esteemed actors Sharon Stone and Helen Mirren, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili, and many other notable figures.

The Cinema for Peace Honorary Awards were presented to His Holiness Pope Francis (through video) for campaigning for the freedom of Ukraine and his humanitarian efforts to protect civilians and children; to Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton for her efforts in spreading peace and democracy around the globe, as a politician, as well as through her film production company; and to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his efforts in spreading peace and democracy around the globe.

A special award, called “Guardian of Democracy” was also presented at the Gala this year, in association with The World Forum on the Future of Democracy, Tech, and Humankind, which was presented to the imprisoned Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi. The acceptance on behalf of Mohammadi was poignantly delivered through a letter, read by her children, Ali Rahmani and Kiana Rahmani at the Gala.

In a night dedicated to celebrating the transformative impact of cinema, presented by the Founder of Live Aid, Sir Bob Geldof, awards were presented to films that tackle the most pressing issues of our time, from fighting oppressive regimes in Uganda to highlighting historic indigenous agricultural practices that could potentially save the world. Here is the complete list of films that were awarded at this year’s Cinema for Peace Gala:

The Cinema for Peace Dove for The Most Valuable Film of the Year was presented by the Chairman of the Cinema for Peace Foundation, Jaka Bizilj, to the films “Golda”, by Guy Nattiv, for portraying Golda Meir and her actions in the Yom Kippur War; “The Zone of Interest” by Jonathan Glazer, for portraying the lack of empathy in the face of murder next door; “One Life” by James Hawes, for showcasing how one man could make a difference and save hundreds of children from the Holocaust; and 102-year-old holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer.

The Cinema for Peace Dove for The Most Valuable Documentary of the Year was presented by Huma Abedin, to the film “Motherland” by Hanna Badziaka and Alexander Mihalkovich, for portraying the need for freedom in a rigid and oppressive system.

The Cinema for Peace Dove for The Political Film of the Year was presented by the former United States Representative Tom Malinowski to the film “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” by Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp, for portraying the fight of Uganda’s people’s president Bobi Wine, a leader against dictatorship.

The Cinema for Peace Dove for Justice was presented by the Founder of Pussy Riot Nadya Tolokonnikova to the film “Lakota Nation vs. the United States” by Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli, for speaking about the injustice native americans have suffered.

The Cinema for Peace Dove for Women’s Empowerment was presented by the President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili, German actress Natalia Wörner, and Executive Director of Equality Now Mona Sinha, to the film “Four Daughters” by Kaouther Ben Hania, for its captivating portrayal of feminine strength and resilience after traumatic events.

The International Green Film Award was presented by Sir Bob Geldof to the film “We Are Guardians” by Chelsea Greene, Edivan Guajajara, and Rob Grobman, for highlighting the fight of Indigenous “forest guardians” in their quest for the conservation of their land in the Brazilian Amazon; and to “Common Ground” by Josh Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Tickell, for raising awareness about the need to reform the modern food industry and industrial farming.

The Cinema for Peace Dove for Global Health was presented by an ordinary hero Nick Bostic who saved five children’s lives from a burning house in Indiana, to the film “Pay or Die” by Scott Alexander Ruderman and Rachael Dyer, for bringing to light the flaws of the US healthcare system by exploring the lives of families dependent on insulin.

The Gala was further illuminated by inspiring performances that resonated with the themes of freedom and peace. Ugandan politician, singer, and actor Bobi Wine delivered a stirring performance of his song “Freedom,” encapsulating the spirit of resistance and hope. Additionally, the renowned clarinetist Giora Feidman enchanted the audience with his performance, creating a harmony that crossed cultural boundaries and spoke directly to the heart of peace and unity.

Ai weiwei's art installation at cinema for peace gala 2016 at berlin konzerthaus

Cinema for Peace has been helping several filmmakers in detention, such as Burmese artist Zarganar, or Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, who among many other things, created the Olympic bird nest stadium. Ai Weiwei is best known for his art and his activism in support of human rights and freedom of expression. What most people are not aware of is the fact that Ai Weiwei is a prolific documentary filmmaker. In China, his films are censored and cannot be legally watched. Ai Weiwei has regarded Cinema for Peace for being first to recognize him as a filmmaker.

In 2011, Ai Weiwei was arrested and secretly detained for 81 days due to his criticism of the Chinese regime and for bringing the abuse of human rights to widespread attention with his actions and films. He was placed under house arrest and, till today, is still under soft detention and not allowed to leave China.

Since his documentary films are an important and still quite unknown part of his oeuvre, the Martin Gropius Bau together with Cinema for Peace decided to show a selection of his films

Cinema for Peace featured the censored movies of Ai Weiwei in its Screening Series ‘Stories of Ai Weiwei’ at Martin-Gropius-Bau Berlin. Cinema for Peace showed the non-fiction film The Crab House in the cinema hall of Martin-Gropius-Bau.

Movies like the ones by Ai Weiwei provide the world with an uncensored view on the living conditions in the country. They might help to support the opposition and eventually improve the situation for artists like Ai Weiwei and all the other people that dare to oppose the government and therefore face human rights violations on behalf of the harmony campaign of Cinema for Peace.