CINEMA FOR PEACE GALA 2025
CINEMA FOR PEACE HONORS BOB GELDOF FOR 40 YEARS LIVE AID, DIANE VON FURSTENBERG, ANTONIO BANDERAS & THE MOST VALUABLE FILMS OF THE YEAR
BERLIN — Over 50 of the world’s most influential filmmakers and notable global figures gathered to celebrate the power of film at the Cinema for Peace Gala 2025. The Gala annually honors international leaders, filmmakers, and artists, for their contributions to fostering global unity and supporting social change through film.
This year’s event presented two Cinema for Peace Honorary Doves. The first Dove, celebrating Forty Years of Live Aid, was presented to Sir Bob Geldof for his creation of the greatest campaign against extreme poverty in human history and his unparalleled influence on celebrity activism. The second Dove honored legendary actor and humanitarian champion Antonio Banderas for his humanitarian efforts both on and off the screen – as an ambassador for "Amnesty International," a collaborator with the United Nations Development Program, and the founder of “Fundación Teatro del Soho,” an integrative theater project in Malaga, Spain. Additionally, the Cinema for Peace Gala awarded Cinema for Peace Doves to films and filmmakers across eight categories.
In this perilous geo-political moment, the power of film has never been more important. As strongmen and repressive regimes rise around the world, long standing alliances crumble, democracies slide towards authoritarianism, and our world balances at an environmental tipping point, filmmakers present a critical bastion of resistance. As director Mohammad Rasoulof shared, “Cinema is not merely an art or an industry, it is a universal language that can build bridges between cultures, people and diverse experiences in a world filled with violence, misunderstanding and deep divisions.”
The Cinema for Peace Gala brought together the filmmakers most engaged in the fight for a better world and celebrated the most impactful films of the year, tackling the pressing issues of our time – from fighting oppressive regimes, to taking a stand against sexual violence, to tackling environmental catastrophe. Hong Kong democratic activist Nathan Law said: “I believe that films are the greatest weapons against the enemies of our time.”
As the trailer of the week, we present the Cinema for Peace Gala 2025 Honorees:
The Cinema for Peace Dove for The Most Valuable Film of the Year: The Seed of the Sacred Fig directed by Mohammad Rasolouf and I’m Still Here directed by Walter Salles
This year, two films tied for the Cinema for Peace Dove for the Most Valuable Film of the Year. Both present the stories of everyday people forced by extraordinary circumstances and political upheaval into acts of heroism and resistance.
In The Seed of the Sacred Fig, an investigating judge Iman grapples with paranoia amid political unrest in Tehran. When his gun vanishes, he suspects his wife and daughters, imposing draconian measures that strain family ties as societal rules crumble. Both the director and cast members had to flee Iran to escape arrest and prison after making this film.
In I’m Still Here, a mother is forced to reinvent herself when her family's life is shattered by an act of arbitrary violence during the tightening grip of a military dictatorship in Brazil, 1971.
The Cinema for Peace Dove for The Most Valuable Documentary Film of the Year: The Click Trap directed by Peter Porta and Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat by Johan Grimonprez
Two films were also awarded in the category of Most Valuable Documentary Film of the Year.
The Click Trap brilliantly showcases how digital advertising algorithms curate content precisely for users and how major tech firms claim to restrict disinformation yet still profit from harmful content, raising ethical concerns about democracy and online capitalism.
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat presents a riveting historical rollercoaster where jazz and decolonization are entwined in a rewriting of a Cold War episode that led musicians Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach to crash the UN Security Council in protest against the murder of Patrice Lumumba.
The Cinema for Peace Dove for The Political Film of the Year: The Bibi Files by Alexis Bloom
The Bibi Files documentary offers viewers an exclusive inside look into the corruption charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu through leaked police interrogation videos.
The Cinema for Peace Dove for Justice: Black Box Diaries by Shiori Ito
Journalist Shiori Ito takes on one of the most powerful institutions in Japan to prosecute her high-profile sexual assailant in a landmark legal case. Using personal footage and hidden cameras, Ito puts everything on the line in the pursuit of justice.
The International Green Film Award: Black Snow by Alina Simone
In Black Snow, extreme pollution causes snow to turn black in a remote Russian mining town. The documentary follows a Siberian eco-activist, dubbed the “Erin Brockovich of Russia”, as she fights for her community.
The Cinema for Peace Dove for Global Health, Technology and Human Enhancement: Eternal You by Hans Block and Moritz Riesewieck
Eternal You documents the startups using AI to create avatars that allow the bereaved to talk with their loved ones after death, presenting a riveting exploration of the deep human desire for immortality and questioning the consequences of commodifying this age-old dream.
The Cinema for Peace Dove for Women’s Empowerment: Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton
In the captivating and glamorous documentary portrait Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge, the many faces of fashion icon Diane von Furstenberg are revealed – child of a Holocaust survivor, Princess by marriage, and founder of a fashion empire – featuring interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Marc Jacobs, Hillary Rodham Clinton and more.
Cinema for Peace Special Dove 2025 for Portraying the Plight of Palestinian Civilians: I Shall Not Hate by Tal Barda
I Shall Not Hate follows the uncharted path of Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, the first Palestinian doctor that worked in an Israeli hospital delivering babies, whose ethos of forgiveness and reconciliation is put to the ultimate test when an Israeli tank bombs his house, killing his three daughters. Against all odds, he turns his tragedy into a global campaign to eradicate hate.
“Because [Cinema for Peace] is for films that are difficult to make, stories that are difficult to tell, but are stories that need to be told and must be listened to.” – Sir Bob Geldof
“In [these] very confusing times, the only real tool that I have is culture, is art, is reading, is watching theater, watching movies.” – Antonio Banderas
“It is extremely difficult today to tell the truth and that is what everyone in this room is doing as they are bearing witness to history and unprecedented times.” – Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
“The labour of making films is a labour of love which requires dedication and a deep belief in its message.” – Trish Dalton
“I hope we continue telling stories that keep the hope for a better world alive in our hearts.” – Mohammad Rasoulof
Nominees and Honorees join onstage to sing “We Are the World” 40 years after the charity single’s record-breaking release as well as “Do They Know It's Christmas” and Live Aid by Bob Geldof.
Gala attendees watch the nomination trailers for The Cinema for Peace Dove for the Most Valuable Film of the Year.
The Click Trap director Peter Porta accepts the award for The Cinema for Peace Dove for The Most Valuable Documentary Film of the Year.
Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy accepts the award for The Cinema for Peace Dove for Women’s Empowerment.
Antonio Banderas and Cinema for Peace founder Jaka Bizilj with human rights activist Zaynap Gashaeva.
Guy Nattiv presents the Cinema for Peace Dove for Justice. He and Zar Amir Ebrahimi were nominated for the Cinema for Peace Dove for the Most Valuable Film of the Year for Tatami, the first feature film by an Israeli and Iranian director together, and he was honored in 2024 together with Helen Mirren for Golda.
Cinema for Peace Gala 2025 Honorees and Nominees:
Cinema for Peace Dove for The Most Valuable Film of the Year 2025
All We Imagine As a Light directed by Payal Kapadia
The Seed of the Sacred Fig directed by Mohammad Rasolouf
Out of My Mind directed by Amber Sealey
September 5 directed by Tim Fehlbaum
Tatami directed by Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Guy Nattiv
The Brutalist directed by Brady Corbet
The Order directed by Justin Kurzel
I Am Still Here directed by Walter Salles
Without Blood directed by Angelina Jolie
Cinema for Peace Dove for The Most Valuable Documentary of the Year 2025
Blink directed by Edmund Stenson, Daniel Roher
Ernest Cole: Lost and Found directed by Raoul Peck
Hollywoodgate directed by Ibrahim Nash'at
Intercepted directed by Oksana Karpovych
Porcelain War directed by Brendan Bellomo, Slava Leontyev
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat directed by Johan Grimonprez
The Click Trap directed by Peter Porta
The Greatest Night in Pop directed by Bao Nguyen
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin directed by Benjamin Ree
Wisdom of Happiness directed by Barbara Miller, Philip Delaquis
The Cinema for Peace Dove for Women’s Empowerment 2025
An Army of Women directed by Julie Lunde Lillesæter
An Unfinished Journey directed by Amie Williams, Aeyliya Husain
Black Box Diaries directed by Shiori Ito
Devi directed by Subina Shrestha
Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Trish Dalton
Maria directed by Pablo Larrain
Mountain Queen directed by Lucy Walker
Never Look Away directed by Lucy Lawless
Shirley directed by John Ridley
Women of Iran directed by Nima Soofi, M.N.
The Cinema for Peace Dove for The Political Film of the Year 2025
2073 directed by Asif Kapadia
America's Burning directed by David Smick
Bad Faith: Christian Nationalism's Unholy War on Democracy directed by Stephen Ujlaki, Christopher Jacob Jones
Carrville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid! directed by Matt Tyrnauer
Mr. Nobody Against Putin directed by David Borenstein
Of Caravan and The Dogs directed by Askold Kurov
The Apprentice directed by Ali Abbasi
The Bibi Files directed by Alexis Bloom
Who's Afraid of Nathan Law? directed by Joe Piscatella
The Cinema for Peace Dove for Justice 2025
Antidote directed by James Jones
Black Box Diaries directed by Shiori Ito
Daughters directed by Angela Patton, Natalie Rae
Farming the Revolution directed by Nishtha Jain
Sugarcane directed by Emily Kassie, Julian Brave NoiseCat
The Cranes Call directed by Laura Warner
Yintah directed by Brenda Michell, Michael Toledano and Jennifer Wickham
International Green Film Award 2025
Black Snow directed by Alina Simone
Legion44 directed by Leila Conners
Made in Ethiopia directed by Max Duncan, Xinyan Yu
Our Living World directed by Laura Coates, Kirstine Davidson, Peter Lown, James Shelton
Our Oceans directed by Abraham Joffe, Nick Lyon, Caroline Menzies, Rachel Scott, Joe Tuck
Postcard from Earth directed by Darren Aronofsky
The Battle for Laikipia directed by Daphne Matziaraki, Peter Murimi
Water for Life directed by Will Parrinello
Cinema for Peace Dove for Global Health, Technology and Human Enhancement 2025
Below the Belt directed by Shannon Cohn
Cyborg Generation directed by Miguel Morillo Vega
Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants To Live Forever directed by Chris Smith
Eternal You directed by Moritz Riesewieck, Hans Block
Food, Inc. 2 directed by Robert Kenner, Melissa Robledo
Hack your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut directed by Anjali Nayar
Joy directed by Ben Taylor
Spermworld directed by Lance Oppenheim
Superhuman Body directed by Greg MacGillivray, Shaun MacGillivray
You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment directed by Cassandra Jabola, Louie Psihoyos
Cinema for Peace Special Dove 2025 for Portraying the Plight of Palestinian Civilians
From Ground Zero directed by Aws Al-Banna, Ahmed Al-Danf, Basil Al-Maqousi, Mustafa Al-Nabih, Muhammad Alshareef, Ala Ayob, Bashar Al Balbisi, Alaa Damo, Awad Hana, Ahmad Hassunah, Mustafa Kallab, Satoum Kareem, Mahdi Karera, Rabab Khamees, Khamees Masharawi, Wissam Moussa, Tamer Najm, Abu Hasna Nidaa, Damo Nidal, Mahmoud Reema, Etimad Weshah, Islam Al Zrieai
I Shall Not Hate directed by Tal Barda
No Other Land directed by Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Rachel Szor