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Festival

DUE TO EFFORTS TO CONTAIN THE CORONAVIRUS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO AVOID GATHERINGS OF MORE THAN 50, OUR FESTIVAL HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

hosted by

CFS Performing Arts Center

Durham, North Carolina

May 12 – 14th, 2020

7 – 9:30 PM (POSTPONED)

FiLMS for World Peace Festival to be held on May 12-14 in the Performing Arts Center at Carolina Friends School in Durham, NC from 7 – 9:30PM.

Programming includes our Student Showcase and Competition Films from France, Iran, Portugal, Nepal, Switzerland and Turkey. Genres include experimental montages, animation, film poems, music videos, documentaries and short narrative films.

 

For those attending in person, there are no ticket fees, but we will be accepting donations for the film program at CFS.  Scroll through our line-up then check-out scheduling below:

 

Student Showcase

Thursday, May 12th 7PM-8:30 PM.

This section includes films by students in our film program.  These films are not in the competition, but they celebrate the creativity of our youth. 

 

TBT:

Ruth Black –Mixed–Experimental (6 minutes 52 seconds)

Tal Chatterjee–Stolen Dance–Music Video (2 minutes 54 seconds)

Simon Covington– MLK–Film Poem (3 minutes 12 seconds)

 

Student Showcase

Middle School Experiments

Ella Springer, Zoe Boardman, Violet Gibbs–Film Poem ( 2 mins 30 seconds)

Sophia Creighton–Experimental (2 minutes)

Eamon Hinton–Experimental (1 minute)

Ella Springer, Zoe Boardman, Violet Gibbs–Experimental (1 min 32 seconds)

Spencer Bluth, Drew Slaughter, Eamon Hinton–Experimental (1 minutes)

Ansel Fodchuck, Ben Hearn–Experimental Horror (1 min 43 seconds)

 

Upper School Student Showcase

Arden Beam–Music Video (original song) –( 3 minutes 11seconds)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pilar Covington–Film Poem –(5 minutes)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abby Breshi–Film Poem (3 minutes 34 seconds)

Holland LaGarde–Animation Short (3 minutes 19 seconds) 

 

Croft Holt–Video Essay— (3 minutes)

 

Siena Bush–Experimental Montage (4 minutes 17)

 

Kika Larrick–Documentary Short (4 minutes 51 minutes)

Birtukan Lomax–Documentary Short (8 minutes 9 seconds)

Yana Levy–Documentary Short (3 minutes 36 seconds)

Abby Breshi–Montage (45 seconds)

Yana Levy–Montage (1 minute)

Anton Dubois–Mockumentary (3 minutes 23 seconds)

Gabbi Robertson–Experimental Montage (2 minutes)

Jack Sendlinger–Experimental (3 minutes 52 seconds)

Jasper Ewing–Narrative Short (6 minutes)

Charlotte Henderson–Documentary Short (5 mins?)

 

McCallum Keats–Documentary Short (16 mins 50 seconds)

Pepita Kipp–Documentary Short (4 mins)

Noah Hardy– Dance Video ( 4 mins)

 

 

Art Portfolio Films

Eliza Zurbach (3 minutes)

Yana Levy (2 minutes)

Competition Film Line-up

In addition to our Student Showcase, the following are some of the international films in competition. All screening days start 7PM from May 12th and May  14th at:

 

Halazoon (Snail)

Synopsis:  Three young Iranian boys along with a smuggler are clandestinely smuggling across the Iran-Turkey border. The smuggler only passes males through the border. In the middle of the way, he suddenly realizes that one of the passengers is a hermaphrodite

Country of Origin: Iran  Runtime: 10:45  Film Type:  Narrative Short

Director – Mohammad Towrivarian

 

Under the Blade

Synopsis:  Inspired by The Respectful Prostitute by Jean-Paul Sartre and the link between sexual abuse and the invasion of thoughts by the government via censorship. This film explores a woman’s attitude towards modernity and feminism.

Country of Origin: Iran  Runtime: 14:49  Film Type:  Narrative Short

Director – Javid Farhani

 

Finish Line

Synopsis:

After her accident, an Iranian female athlete is trying to get back into her sport but faces challenges for refusing to wear hijab in international competitions. Now she has to confront the consequences of her decisions. 

Country of Origin: Iran  Runtime: 12:15  Film Type:  Narrative Short

Director – Saeed Mayahy

 

Flying Fish

Synopsis:

A new teacher in the village discovers that the only girl in the class has a cigarette burn on her hand.

Country of Origin: Iran  Runtime: 14:39  Film Type:  Narrative Short

Director –   Mohammad Towrivarian

Away from Guns

Synopsis: The idea of Away from guns came in 2015, after meeting Junior, a demobilized child soldier from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Made up of testimonies from demobilized former child soldiers from several continents, this film also represents local youth who have committed themselves to the cause, as well as experts on the subject.

Trailer

Country of Origin: Switzerland  Runtime: 40:00  Film Type:  Documentary Short

Director –  Hassan Lakhdar

From One Shore to Another

Synopsis:  An oyster farmer from the South of France, who only listens to his heart, is confronted to a situation which is going to make resentment, racism and intolerance rise in others. 

From one shore to another

Official Trailer

Country of Origin: France  Runtime: 19:30  Film Type:  Narrative Short

Director –   Gerard Corporan

 

Alfalao

Synopsis: We are in the village, where it is always too hot despite the cold weather and the rain once in a while. This village is Alfaião

Trailer

Country of Origin: Portugal  Runtime: 13:17  Film Type:  Documentary Short

Director –   André Almeida Rodrigues 

Only One World Left

Synopsis: A social awareness underwater short film of single-use plastic effects to the oceans

Country of Origin: Turkey Runtime: 3:00  Film Type:  Narrative Short

Director –    Alican Abacı

White Cloud of Mind

Synopsis: Aakash(24 years old) is struggling with his father to go abroad. After spending most of his money for a consultancy, he realizes that it is not possible to get his visa. 

Country of Origin: Nepal  Runtime: 17:00  Film Type: Narrative Short

Director: Ramesh Lamaa

hosted by Carolina Friends School

March 12 – 14th, 2020

Durham, NC

 

 

FiLMS for World Peace is a film education program.

Our mission is to use film to transform conflict into discovery. We use a unique query-based approach that creates space for our filmmakers to engage in self-examination as they learn to want to see, understand and value perspectives they may not agree with while challenging their audiences to do the same. Our hope is that these explorations build community and dialogue between our youth in the East and the West that allow us to recognize our connected universal humanity and will for positive change and healing.

_______________________________________________________________________

 

 

films screened at our previous festivals:

 

 

 

Malka                  

Synopsis:

The story untold by a refugee is the one you need to hear–A vital key to understanding. But recalling it is too painful; to find words to express it is impossible. This short video tells the story of a journey into the unknown through the eyes of a child. Fear and hope journey with them.

 

Director – Stefan Freedman + Lois Cordelia

 

 

 

Sinor (Border)  (

Synopsis:

Making films is a great challenge in any society. However, when there is little tradition of it, almost no industry to speak of, and crippling bureaucratic machinery in place, this challenge becomes an insurmountable undertaking. In this informative and honest documentary the camera follows the efforts of two prominent Kurdish filmmakers in their latest endeavour to secure the resources, obtain approvals, facilitate logistics and support, to produce their film, which is filmed in real life and on locations.

Country of Origin: Iraq Runtime: 50 minutes 14 seconds Film Type: Documentary

Director: Mazin Sherabayani
Evocation: The Past in the Present

 Synopsis:

A long sequence shot about the importance of the past in the current life of the people of Norte de Santander. A tour of the General Santander House Museum.

Country of Origin: Colombia Runtime: 12 minutes Film Type: Experimental

Director : Joan Sebastián Ascanio

 

 

 

Guerrilla Voices

Synopsis:

By the time the peace agreement between the Colombian government and FARC-EP was signed (December 2016), a group of more than 200 rebels of the 6th Front entered a Transition and Normalization Zone in Monteredondo, Cauca. The filmmaker entered this camp in January 2017 and followed several FARC rebels in their demobilization process throughout the coming year. The rebels talk about their experiences during the war, the reasons for joining the guerrilla, and their dreams for the future. Throughout the documentary we see how they prepare themselves for a life without arms. But insecurities arise when armed groups get closer to the demobilization camp, and the government seems unable to fulfill its promises of Peace and wellbeing to the former combatants.

Country of Origin: Colombia Runtime: 1 hour 14 mins Film Type: Documentary

 

 

 

To live, to sail   

Synopsis:

The Mediterranean as narrated through life stories of three characters. Ane is a cook from island of Mljet, Croatia, Pavel is a skipper from Italy and Yiannis is a Greek fisherman. All of them are passionate about sea and life on its coasts. In summer, small places where they live offer many life and job opportunities, while winter imposes them some specific life choices. Yet, love for the sea keeps them on its coasts even when it is not easy to survive there. A leitmotif of this story is a novel “Besa”, written by famous Croatian sailor and writer Joža Horvat.

Country of Origin: Croatia, Italy, Greece Runtime: 40 minutes Film Type: Documentary

Director: Jure Bušić

 

Truth Detectives 

Synopsis:

Almost in real time victims of war and crimes use their mobile devices to film and photograph their experiences. International investigators collect this evidence for criminal prosecution. We document their research on cultural heritage in Mali, the “Black Friday” bomb attacks in Gaza, the war in Ukraine and the search for mass graves in Columbia.
“Truth Detectives” documents how new technological developments are helping to bring to justice to those who violate human rights.

Country of Origin: Germany Runtime: 1 hour 25 mins 14 secs Film Type: Documentary

 Director Biography – Anja Reiss

 

We Are Human 

Synopsis:

Singabantu is a Afrophobia Awareness video shot in the remains of a house in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, South Africa that was set alight and burnt to the ground by disgruntled residents during service delivery protests that turned into Afrophobic attacks. The video stars a diverse group of African immigrant youth that share the daily plight they face being “foreigners” in South Africa.

 

Country of Origin: South Africa Runtime: 1 minutes 30 seconds Film Type: Documentary

Director:  Louise Kanza

 

THE WAR      

 

Synopsis:

After the war a child expresses his revolt while facing the consequences.

Country of Origin: Kosovo Runtime: 2 minutes 14 seconds Film Type: Documentary

Director: Mentor Spahui

 

 

Red Lands   

 

Synopsis:

In Italy, properties, land, companies and 13,000 goods have been seized from the Mafia. For years young and senior volunteers have been working together into the realm of the legitimate. The documentary narrates their relationship, the different points of view, their attachment to the land, their idea of Mafia.

 

 

Country of Origin: Italy

Runtime: 51 minutes 40 seconds

Film Type: Documentary

Director – David Fratini

 

 

CHOCOLATE  

Synopsis:

Based on a true political event that occurred in the city of AYODHYA, INDIA in 1992.
The Babri Masjid (a mosque) was destroyed and raised to the ground. This incident and the aftermath of riots affected normal citizens living in India and abroad. The story takes you back to 1992 and revolves around two professional Indians Farhan and Manish who work in Canada, and are also roommates. The unfortunate political incident in India, turns the table around and these two now get into a senseless fury that leads to the fatality of both, much against the teachings of their individual respective religion. The film also has Sara playing Farhan’s love interest who is devastated by this loss and Professor Liz who is a cross religion teacher that delivers the message of peace.

Country of Origin: Canada     Runtime: 20 minutes     Film Type: Documentary

Director: Afroz Khan

 

Whistle 

Synopsis:

Some boys tell their story to GOD or someone on the other side–about how they died.

 

Country of Origin: Iran Runtime: 8 mins 47 secs

Film Type: Experimental

Director: Farshid Ghorbanpoor

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spaces  

Synopsis:

An existential search for the meaning of space in our contemporary fast paced lives.

Country of Origin: United States

Runtime: 12 minutes

Film Type: Experimental

Director – Hart Ginsburg

 

 

Punarjanma ( Rebirth )      

Synopsis:

Based on a true story during the insurgency period of Nepal, Amar who was in the Nepali Army is kidnapped by Maoists. During the combat Amar’s friend happens to wear his uniform and gets engaged in combat. When his body is found, he is not recognized and it is assumed that Amar is dead and the body and handed over to Amar’s Family.

Country of Origin: Nepal Runtime: 14 minutes 23 seconds Film Type: Narrative Short

Director: Sajan Shrestha ( Satya )

 

SILENCE   

Synopsis:

He has been divorced for two years. Now, four phone calls open a window to the conflict in his life.

Country of Origin: Iran

Runtime: 13 minutes 53 seconds

Film Type: Narrative Short

Director: Iman Davari

 

60=1      

Synopsis:

Birth, growth, hope, love, death– The same life

Country of Origin: Iran

Runtime: 1 minute 7 seconds

Film Type: Experimental

Director: Iman Davar

 

 

 

 

From delusion till fear       

Synopsis:

Young girl is sleeping in murder.
With a cry of sleep, he will rise up, and again encounter his body.  We hear the cry of the girl. At that very moment, the man rises from sleep, but he encounters a young woman’s body, and we hear the cry of a man screaming from the city.

Country of Origin: Iran Runtime: 4 minute 44 seconds Film Type: Narrative Short

Director: Iman Davari

 

 

 

 

 

Birds      

Synopsis:

When a grandmother answers difficult questions, Luka decides he must catch birds in order to see what no ones else can help him see. His dream comes under threat when older boys take away his trap and Luka must learn how far he will go for his birds and his dream. .

Country of Origin: Georgia Runtime: 12 mins 09 secs Film Type: Narrative Short

Director: Giorgi Tkemaladze

 

The Root    

Synopsis:

–A story of existence and destruction–a journey of mankind to its roots where he places himself superior to everything else.

 

 

POWERED BY:

 

 

Send us an email to: filmsforworldpeace@gmail.com  with “Festival” in the subject heading for more information.

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