CINEMA FOR PEACE DOVES 2026

The Cinema for Peace Dove for The Most Valuable Film of the Year

NOMINEES:

Bugonia

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos

Two conspiracy theorists kidnap a CEO believing her to be an alien plotting Earth's destruction.

Eleanor the great

Directed by scarlett johansson

After a devastating loss, witty and proudly troublesome Eleanor Morgenstein, 94, tells a tale that takes on its own dangerous life.

hamnet

Directed by Chloé Zhao

After losing their son Hamnet to plague, Agnes and William Shakespeare grapple with grief in 16th-century England.

 

it was just an accident

Directed by Janifer Panahi

A small mishap triggers a chain reaction of ever-growing problems.

Nuremberg

Directed by james vanderbilt

A WWII psychiatrist evaluates Nazi leaders before the Nuremberg trials, growing increasingly obsessed with understanding evil as he forms a disturbing bond with Hermann Göring.

one battle after another

Directed by paul thomas anderson

When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue the daughter of one of their own.

 

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Directed by Kaouther Ben Hania

Red Crescent volunteers receive an emergency call. A 6-year old girl is trapped in a car under IDF fire in Gaza, pleading for rescue. While trying to keep her on the line, they do everything they can to get an ambulance to her.

The Wizard of the Kremlin

Directed by Olivier Assayas

A young Russian filmmaker becomes an unlikely advisor to Vladimir Putin as he rises to power in post-Soviet Russia, navigating the new era's complexities and chaos.

Two Prosecutors

Directed by Sergei Loznitsa

In the USSR in 1937, a newly appointed prosecutor discovers an undestroyed letter from a prisoner that reveals corruption in the secret police, the NKVD. His search for the truth becomes dangerous

 

Rental Family

Directed by Hikari

An American actor in Tokyo struggling to find purpose lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese "rental family" agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. He rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the beauty of human connection.

Sirat

Directed by Oliver Laxe

A father, accompanied by his son, goes looking for his missing daughter in North Africa.

The Cinema for Peace Dove for The Most Valuable Documentary of the Year

NOMINEES:

2000 Meter to Andriivka

Directed by Mstyslav Chernov

A Ukrainian platoon's mission: traverse a heavily fortified mile of forest to liberate a strategic village from Russian forces. A journalist accompanies them, witnessing the ravages of war and the growing uncertainty about its conclusion.

Children In The Fire

Directed by Evgeny Afineevsky

War-wounded Ukrainian children share their stories through a blend of live footage and animation, bringing their experiences to life.

There is Another Way

Directed by Stephen apkon

Showcases Palestinians and Israelis working for peace through non-violent means.

 

Of Mud and Blood


Directed by Jean-Gabriel Leynaud

Life in the village of Numbi in Congo Mountains, where the inhabitants make their living digging for coltan, a key raw material found in many contemporary technological products.

Can’t Look Away: The Case Against Social Media

Directed by Matthew O'Neill, Perri PeltZ

Matthew O'Neill and Perri Peltz follow the Social Media Victims Law Center as it fights for families harmed by addictive algorithms and tech negligence.

Molly vs The Machines


Directed by Marc Silver

Molly vs The Machines unveils the tragic story behind a teenager driven to take her life by machines that were built to control people for profit.

 

The Road Between Us: the ultimate rescue

Directed by Barry Avrich

Grandfather and retired Israeli general Noam Tibon rescues his family from Hamas terrorists invading their home during the October 7, 2023 massacre - a coordinated assault on Israel sparking an ongoing conflict.

Steal this story, please!


Directed by Tia Lessin, Carl Deal

A reporter's personal journey and major news coverage intersect in this film debuting at DC/Dox, emphasizing journalism's vital role in revealing truth during an era when independent reporting faces challenges.

This Ordinary Thing


Directed by Nick Davis

This Ordinary Thing is a Holocaust Film like none other; it explores the heroism, bravery and self-sacrifice of non-Jewish people throughout Europe who risked their very lives to hide Jewish strangers.

 

The Last Twins

Directed by Matthew O'Neill, Perri Peltz

Erno Spiegel protected twin children from Mengele's experiments at Auschwitz. Put in charge of young boys, he risked his life to shield them from brutal medical tests and death, saving dozens through courage and compassion.

The Cinema for Peace Dove for The Political Film of the Year

NOMINEES:

Facing War

Directed by Tommy Gulliksen

NATO chief Stoltenberg navigates his final year, balancing Ukraine support promises with rising European war fears.

Coexistance, my ass!

Directed by Amber Fares

Comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi's one-woman show tackles the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the struggle for equality, challenging audiences with uncomfortable truths when her pursuit of coexistence starts sounding absurd.

The 6 Billion Dollar Man

Directed by Eugen Jarecki

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange battled extradition to the U.S., where he could've faced a lengthy sentence for publishing classified documents. His case, centered on press freedom, took unexpected twists as it unfolded.

 

My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow

Directed by Julia Loktev

Julia Loktev documents independent journalists in Moscow facing government crackdown as Russia invades Ukraine, capturing their fight for speech amid risks of being branded "foreign agents" and the country's drift towards authoritarianism.

Bodyguard of Lies


Directed by Dan Krauss

The story of how a young Donald Trump started his real estate business in 1970s and 80s New York with the helping hand of infamous lawyer Roy Cohn.

Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea

Directed by Baby Ruth Villarama

Amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Filipino fishermen, Coast Guard, and Navy personnel risk everything to defend their waters and way of life.

The Librarians

Directed by Kim A. Snyder

Librarians unite to combat book banning, defending intellectual freedom on democracy's frontlines amid unprecedented censorship in Texas, Florida, and beyond.

 

International Green Film Award

NOMINEES:

yanuni

Directed by richard ladkani

Indigenous chief Juma Xipaia fights to protect tribal lands despite assassination attempts. Her struggle intensifies after learning she's pregnant, while her husband, Special Forces ranger Hugo Loss, stands by her side.

Trade Secret

Directed by Abraham Joffe

Three allies investigate global polar bear trading, revealing how those meant to protect these animals may be involved in their commercialization. Shot over 6 years in 9 countries.

Ocean with David Attenborough

Directed by Colin Butfield, Toby Nowlan, Keith Scholey

Attenborough explores the planet's undersea habitats, revealing the greatest age of ocean discovery and emphasizing the ocean's vital importance while exposing its problems and highlighting opportunities for marine life recovery.

 

Super Nature

Directed by ED SAYERS

Terry Kennedy once formed an unlikely bond with a giant manta ray named Willy. Now he makes one final dive expedition to a remote island, hoping to reunite with his extraordinary ocean friend.

The Last Dive

Directed by Cody

Terry Kennedy once formed an unlikely bond with a giant manta ray named Willy. Now he makes one final dive expedition to a remote island, hoping to reunite with his extraordinary ocean friend.

The Tale of Silyan

directed by Tamara Kotevska

A young Spanish musician, inspired by cyborg artists undergoes an illegal procedure to implant a cybernetic organ allowing him to perceive sounds from outer space promising new musical inspiration.

The Cinema for Peace Dove for Women’s Empowerment

NOMINEES:

Cutting through rocks


Directed by Sara Khak, Mohammadreza Eyni


First female councilor in her Iranian village, Sara Shahverdi challenges tradition by teaching girls to ride motorcycles and fighting child marriage, while facing doubts about her motives.

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Give me the Ball!

Directed by Liz Garbus, Elizabeth Wolff

A definitive documentary centered on tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King and her game-changing impact on sports and culture. Featuring rare archive footage and candid interviews with King and those closest to her, the film reveals how she prioritized changing the world over her own safety and comfort

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore

Directed by Shoshannah Stern

In 1987, Marlee Matlin became the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award and was thrust into the spotlight at 21 years old. Reflecting on her life in her primary language of American Sign Language, Marlee explores the complexities of what it means to be a trailblazer.

 

Love + war

Directed by Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi

A documentary profiling the extraordinary life of veteran war photographer Lynsey Addario. The film explores her dangerous work chasing conflicts across the globe while navigating the complexities of her personal life, relationships, and family at home.

prime minister

Directed by Lindsay Utz, Michelle Walshe

Chronicling Jacinda Ardern's tenure as New Zealand PM, navigating crises while redefining global leadership through her empathetic yet resolute approach.

sally

Directed by Cristina Costantini

Sally Ride's groundbreaking journey as the first American woman in space concealed a deeply personal story. Her life partner, Tam O'Shaughnessy, unveils their covert 27-year romance and its accompanying sacrifices.


 

The Last Ambassador

Directed by Natalie Halla

Afghanistan's last female ambassador, Manizha Bakhtari, is risking everything in her fight for the rights of girls and women in Afghanistan.

young mothers

Directed by Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne

Five young mothers living in a shelter strive for a better future for themselves and kids amidst challenging upbringings.

 
Winners 2025 update