Global Peace Film Festival, Inc.

I am a documentary filmmaker from Mississippi and was fortunate to have my film selected by GPFF for their 2024 festival. The efforts of this festival to serve their community with a powerful program of films and conversations cannot be overstated. I was especially pleased with their constant communication throughout the process and dedication to hospitality once I arrived in the Winter Park area. This festival should be a model for others around the country both in terms of their mission and their execution of that mission.

I was pleasantly surprised at this festival! It definitely looks like they know what they are doing: the films were interesting and they also tied into the visual arts with a presentation in a gallery. I have a feeling this festival is going to be on a lot more peoples radars sooner rather than later.

I look forward to the festival each year. The selected screenings are timely, educational and very often, heartwarming stories. What I enjoy and appreciate the most is the panel discussion with the filmmakers following the screening – very well done!

I had an incredible experience at the Global Peace Film Festival! It was an honor to showcase our film to a thoughtful, passionate audience. From the mission of the GPFF to the structure, Nina and Kelly do an excellent job creating a one-of-a-kind festival experience. They take time to get to know the filmmakers and make sure the films are getting the recognition they deserve AND to make sure the audience is getting behind-the-scenes access to the creation of the films. It's a wonderfully well-rounded festival that is changing the world – and doing so very thoughtfully and succesfully. I hope to participate again in the future! I can't say enough good things about the Global Peace Film Festival!

This festival is held to far away for me to travel to so I really appreciate that many of their films are available online. I enjoy watching them each year.

As a filmmaker, having the opportunity to attend film festivals can really inspire! I'm so grateful to Global Peace Film Festival for inviting me to be in person for a Q&A after my film. I met other amazing filmmakers and other potential partners to further develop my impact campaign, and was able to connect with Rollin's faculty who specialize in media who had great ideas about getting my film seen. It was the first time I attended a film festival for my documentary, and I'm so glad I was afforded the opportunity to do so. Thanks Nina and Kelly!

Being a part of Global Peace FF was a true honor. At every touchpoint of communication - from submissions to acceptance to screening - we were contacted directly by the organizers. They took the time to prerecord interviews with all of their filmmakers, and helped with travel and promotion. An amazing team.

Our organization (TMI Project) was fortunate to screen our documentary film Locker Room Talk with Global Peace Film Festival this past September, and from start to finish, it was a phenomenal experience. It was the first festival who directly reached out to us with a personalized invitation, expressing their deep interest in our work and showcasing it at the festival. It was clear from the beginning that they meant what they said and did what they said they'd do. We're eternally grateful to Nina and Kelly for such a remarkable experience, warm hospitality, clear communication, and an overall beautiful experience. We're fans forever, and we look forward to seeing what great heights GPFF can reach - likely limitless!

As a filmmaker, I was overjoyed to share my film at the GPFF.

It is unlike any other festival in the individual attention that they give to each film, truly focusing on who the audience is and what the aims of the films are. They did an amazing job bringing in an enthusiastic and thoughtful audience that cared about the issues of our film.

It was a delightful and productive experience from start to finish! Can't wait to go back.

I've had the privilege as a journalist and teacher over the past few years to cover this festival and interview its founder and bring classes to the film as part of the courses I teach, and what's so remarkable about the festival, year after year, is how consistent the vision is and yet just how many, many places and points of view play into it. Another way of saying this is there are so many different films, entertaining and inspirational, about such a multitude of inspiring people and places - and yet you walk away from each film with the same sense of what I guess I can call inspired connectedness. I'm trying to keep myself from saying this but we are all the same, we are all connected, and it's one thing to put that truth in a sentence but quite another to see it epitomized, year after year, in this splendid film festival.

This was a wonderful festival. We had a great audience and Q&A after . We travelled from Ireland to attend with our film LYRA supported by WorldOrlando . It was a really well organised festival and we met some brilliant other film makers.
I only wish it was on longer with more films maybe next year MORE - was so good .
Many thanks to all involved and congratulations on the event . We will be back !

I am a filmmaker who has screened two separate films at the Global Peace Film Festival over the past few years. I've been highly impressed by the warm welcome and support from both Nina and Kelly, and their commitment to showing films with diverse subject matters which spark interest, and further the conversation about making the world a better place. Their commitment to this unique mission through interesting programming, welcoming of filmmakers (they have amazing volunteers at the festival), and their engagement with the local community in Winter Park and Orlando make this festival a wonderful contribution to the region, online viewers, and toward the cause of Global Peace.

We had a great time at this festival! They showed some really great films, and we also attended an art gallery show they sponsored. (At the time, it was a great display of Nelson Mandela photographs...fascinating suff.) I hadn't heard about the festival before, so this was a pleasant treat this year. I will definitely be going again!

I wasn't able to visit the Global Peace Film Festival in the Orlando area this year, but I enjoyed watching several of their online films, which were all very good.
Kudos to the filmmakers and the organizers and staff of the festival!

This film festival was a truly wonderful experience! It is heartening to see a festival that not only celebrates the art of filmmaking but also seeks to educate and inspire its audience. I am grateful to the organisers for their hard work and dedication and I'm thrilled to say that my film The Art of Confession was selected and included in the festival's program.

This year's festival had a great lineup and selection of films. We saw Evan Ever After and had no idea this was literally right in our own backyard. (Actually, school district). Great documentary.

My coproducer and I were so thrilled to have GPFF be the first stop on our film's festival tour!

The curators were so generous, communicative and hospitable, and while we weren't able to attend the film in person, we were able to attend virtually, which was an excellent experience for us as well as the subjects of our film!

The Global Peace Film Festival is an incredible event to be a part of. The line-up of films spans the landscape of peace and justice issues and the programming reflected a diversity of thought-provoking content. The festival was buzzing with people leaving inspired and ready to take action. The Q and A sessions with filmmakers were moving and poignant (live and virtual). I can't wait to participate again next year!

What an absolutely fantastic festival! Had never been to Orlando, and did not know what to expect with the festival. But from the moment I arrived, I found the festival to be incredibly well organized, stimulating, and nourishing. There was an easy-to-follow calendar despite the plethora of films being screened, with clear directions to all the locations. The films selected were fantastic and thought-provoking, along with great Q&A's, and easy access to the filmmakers. And all within a city with striking natural beauty (surprising to me!). Thank you for a truly wonderful and unforgettable experience!

My experiences with GPFF have always been rewarding. Most recently I was enlivened by the documentary "Into the Canyon." Nina's keen relationship with screenwriters and other film creatives is most supportive!

I've been attending GPFF since about 2004-06. Some of the earliest films caught my eye, my heart, my interest and enforced the fact that the little earth-helping things that I was and am doing absolutely DO make a difference. That community participation goes a long way. That some of the "political" nonsense about food(s), climate, wildlife, social change, etc. are all obvious. So, I started to research GPFF, it's mission, integrity, fairness, staff, financial responsibility. I have since found that everything they do and present is done with all of those requirements plus the best of professionalism. I, personally, find their graphics amazing, their info sharing thorough. I realize this is a little long but so is 20 years of doing business right. Recently I was afforded the opportunity to meet this awesome staff. It is so obvious why GPFF is a success & worthy of support. No softies here, all in, all accountable.

The Global Peace Film Festival staff are everything one could hope for as a filmmaker: committed, passionate about film, conscientious at each step of the way, and conscious in connecting our film and its themes to relevant local issues and organizations to maximize impact. I'm glad our film was a part of this year's festival and hope to make it in person someday.

GPFF is an incredibly welcoming and inspiring film festival. While we were unable to attend in person, Kelly, Nina, and the team still went above and beyond to include us in the activities. Above all, knowing our film was included in an event with a mission such as theirs was hope giving in the times we are living through. 5 + stars in every way.

I always look forward to the Global Peace Film Festival in Central Florida. As a member of the local Amnesty International Group, it allows me to connect with other like minded individuals in the area. Over the years it has allowed me to collaborate on events and educate the community on human rights and social justice issues locally and around the globe.

Global Peace Film Festival (GPFF) has a mission not only to educate truthfully the public on a variety of issues that affect us directly and indirectly but also to encourage filmmakers to assist in this endeavor, a unique contribution, to my knowledge.
GPFF insists on community involvement in expressing their "shock and awe", a factor that reveals the importance of this festival.

This is an important film festival dedicated to fostering peace. The directors are very committed to the pursuit of peace and in lifting up causes and platforms that fight for social justice. It was a very thoughtfully curated festival run by two very dedicated directors. If you are a socially conscious filmmaker or someone who who supports social justice and equality, this organization is worthy of your support.

We had a wonderful experience showcasing our film I.C.B.M. (Inter-Continental Bunker Mission) in person at the 2022 GPFF. Kelly, Nina, Lori and the rest of the GPFF team looked after us superbly and provided a fantastic platform to showcase our film, that fit perfectly in a well curated festival programme. Would highly recommend this festival as a filmmaker!

I have been familiar with the Global Peace Film Festival for many years, and finally had my opportunity to participate in it a few years ago. It turned out to be the highlight of my year; and each year since, it has been on my calendar as the annual event not to be missed.

Under the GPFF’s broadly inclusive umbrella, each peace festival presents a varied wealth of creative documentary films on the many facets of the theme. With such variety to choose from, my approach to the annual event is to start viewing as early as possible the multitude of interview sessions Kelly Devine, the Artistic Director, and Nina Streich, the Executive Director of the Global Peace Film Festival, hold with the filmmakers.

I find the filmmaker interviews interesting, entertaining and, especially, educational—my favorite way to gain insight into their films. Kelly’s thoughtful and thought-provoking queries and comments are helpful in drawing out the whys and wherefores of the filmmakers’ thought processes as they anticipated and developed the threads of their documentaries.

In total, I find the interviews an invaluable means for getting a jump-start on the inspirational and motivational, ‘peaceful’ documentary viewing experience which constitutes my most anticipated event of the year.

We are so lucky the Global Peace Film Festival is held right here in Winter Park. Once again Nina and Kelly, as they do each year, did an exceptional job selecting films that are relevant to each of us.

I had the chance to watch many of the amazing films in person and online. The event started with “World Peace and Other Fourth-Grade Achievements”. What a great film to kick off the event. The last show I was able to watch in person was Boycott. A film everyone in the country needs to watch that shows how our constitutional rights are being eroded by state legislators across the country.

Already looking forward to next year’s festival! ! !

Bob H

Celebrating two decades of justice through cinema, dialogue, and action and exploring all aspects of social justice through the art of filmmaking, once again in 2022, the Global Peace Film Festival championed storytellers for social justice and programmed a strong lineup of films that inspire viewers to advocacy and action.

The Global Peace Film Festival is exemplary for catalyzing community engagement around stories and issues from around the world. I am a filmmaker and this 20th anniversary year was the fourth time I have had a film screen at this wonderful festival The experience was heartwarming for successfully bringing an issue to the central Florida audience. Kudos to the hardworking GPFF team!

For 20 years Global Peace Film Festival has been strengthening community relationships and building bridges across differences using the power of art and story. They present a carefully curated line-up of films that speak to the most pressing issues of our time, improve our understanding –– and even entertain us! –– all while creating space for informed dialogue. Kudos to the team!!

We had a great time showing our film ICBM. Nina, Kelly and the rest of the organizers helped us with anything we needed, and made the whole experience very pleasurable. The program was very interesting and well put together.

Great festival - really well organised and presented. Nina and Kelly were very generous throughout and made us feel extremely welcome. There were several great opportunities to network with festival attendees and fellow filmmakers. Screening films offered a great balance between being wholeheartedly eye-opening and thoroughly entertaining - looking forward to keeping in touch!

There are film festivals & then there are standouts such asThe Global Peace Film Festival. For 19 years the Festival has held true to its mission by presenting the community with the outstanding documentaries available that year to inspire, inform, challenge & motivate. Really an incredible achievement when you think about it.

The Global Peace Film Festival specializes in stimulating thought and stirring to action on an array of socially and morally important issues. So for me it's a high point on my events calendar each year.

GPFF has provided me with the opportunity to put words and ideas into action. Of all the programming work I have done, programming for GPFF is the most rewarding. The festival not only gives me the opportunity to share my skills, but to engage with and learn from others in the process.

The GPFF is an awesome experience to be a part of. Nina and Kelly create a festival that is thought-provoking, warm, intimate, and professional from the introduction of each film to the Q&A that follows. I witnessed audience members of various generations truly engaged and entertained by the varied subjects of the film presented. As a filmmaker screening "Stand Up Standout: The Making of a Comedy Movement," I felt well-taken care throughout my time attending the festival. The crew/staff did a great job too! As an audience member attending the screenings of the fellow filmmakers I learned so much and enjoyed all the films I was fortunate to see this year. This festival successfully serves the community by allowing filmmakers and audience to see a variety of films they would likely never see at their local movie theatre--in a word "inspiring!"

I attended the 2021 GPFF on-line. I intended to watch a few films and ended up watching 14 films ranging in length from 5 minutes (Myanmmar- a film I can't stop thinking about) to feature length films. I was deeply impressed by the variety of topics and global settings in the films- each depicting an aspect of the human condition, good, bad or indifferent, and how the actions of individuals can have so much impact. The festival was described to me as wanting to bring films to describe peace as "a process" reflected in the daily lives of individuals. Watching these films, I think the festival has superbly achieved this and I have come to understand how powerful this can be.

GPFF is a truly amazing community event and a happening we wait for every year,
It brings perspective and power to groups of people here in central Florida. It allows dialogue and shifts of attitudes in the viewing and conversations that follow the films.
When I am not in town I feel truly deprived to miss the highlight of the year - the Global Peace Film Festival

I had a great experience interning with the GPFF for the 2021 festival. Along with gaining more experience in festival programming and organizing, I learnt so much more about peace and social justice issues from around the world. Excited to see what's coming next year!

It really meant a lot that our film 'Sleeping Warrior' became a part of the Global Peace Film Festival. The perfect place to share our message ! Loved working with this organisation and hope to do so again in the future. Asante Sana

Thank you very much, for your support through the festival, of my film. It is an honor and a privilege for me to present my film at this festival. There were so many appreciations, positive comments of my film during the festival. I am very grateful to have this response and support from all around the world. See you soon and I wish you the best for your future projects. - Keerthigan

Amazing festival! Nina and Kelly provide such a warm, wonderful experience for filmmakers. I can not say enough about their vision to not only bring fantastic films to the GPFF but to influence hearts and minds.

The Global Peace Film Festival engages the audience at a level deeper than what any other film festival has been able to do. It has created activists who are called to action at the end of a film. I feel that GPFF should be in every middle and high school classroom as part of civic and social awareness. Too often our children struggle to find their voices in activism without guidance. GPFF can help children find those voices in a productive way...through media.

Having our film The Great Disconnect (www.disconnecteddoc.com) screen at Global Peace Film festival was truly an honour. To have our our film screen alongside many inspiring films advocating for social change and global peace puts this festival in a category of its own. Also, despite being virtual, the programmers were a delight to be in touch with and made us feel like we were all connected. We look forward to having the opportunity to take part of the festival LIVE once it's possible!

Global Peace Film Festival was a wonderful experience full of great culture, feat films and great friends. I look forward to attending again next year!! A must do!!!

As a documentary filmmaker working on sharing the stories and experiences of marginalized communities in Florida, I had a wonderful experience sharing our film at the Global Peace Film Festival. It is wonderful to connect with an organization that shares our passion regarding the social impact of filmmaking. Beyond the film festival, we have also had very positive experiences working with GPFF for other events and screenings outside of the specific dates of the festival. I also appreciate how they were able to modify their entire approach during this global pandemic, and to make this year's festival online without losing the human touch they bring to their events. Highly recommended.

This festival has always had fantastic programming and they know how to take care of filmmakers. I'm a huge fan! Wish I could attend in person.

If you start with the profoundly moving 41 minute LIBERATION HEROES, directed by Vanessa Roth, about American soldiers liberating Nazi concentration camps, you begin to sense the purpose in the unique programming of Global Peace Film Festival. A film that warns us today with the warnings in history, of 1933, when both FDR and Hitler came to power. The festival inspires, engages, and organizes our thinking.. Unlike so many other film fests, the glamour, here, is found over and over in the pleasures and outrage that motivate us to to make the world a better place.

GPFF is so much more than a film festival. They are truly creating community around films about the most important topics of our times, encouraging conversation and finding the elusive middle ground. Their support of filmmakers extends beyond the festival experience. Through their non-profit they actively work to help films from development through distribution. Unique, dedicated, and essential!

Love this film festival and its mission - to use the power of films to make the world a better place by featuring thought provoking, socially consensus films. Nina and Kelly are very filmmaker friendly and run a very organized festival! I have had two of my films screen at this festival "Art From the Streets" and "Community First, A Home for the Homeless", and I'm so glad that I did.

One of the best festivals I have attended.

The organizers are amazing, made great connections, the community involvement in the screenings and events are truly impressive. Keep up the good work :)

The Global Peace Film Festival year after year delivers a truly profound and eye-opening experience. There has never been a single film that I saw at this festival that I found to be unentertaining or uninspiring. Nina Streich, the festival's director, continues to invoke passion and the will to act in the festival's attendees. This event is surely one that is not to be missed!

Kelly and Nina screened my film at Rollins College as part of their festival. They programmed the festival thoughtfully and drew an exceptionally savvy crowd to the event. Their connections to the activist and academic communities in Orlando, FL, allowed for dynamic conversation after the screening with a panel of local journalists. I can't wait to submit my next film to their festival.

Kelly and Nina are not only top-notch organizers, but they've developed key relationships with non-profits around the Orlando area. This is a perfect fit for social and environmental justice filmmakers. Excellent screening venues, warm hospitality and great opportunities to network. I'm truly grateful for the experience.

I have had the good fortune to watch movies and also volunteer for GPFF for several years. The movies are thought provoking and give us the global perspective of life. It is doing a great service in the cause of world peace.

I am proud to support GPFF! Their consistently relevant, well-curated films are something that I look forward to. Highly recommended!

I live in New York and have not yet been able to attend the festival in person, but
for several years I have watched and enjoyed many of the festival films made available online.
I'm looking forward to the 2019 festival.

Consistently relevant, well-curated, with so many quality films that I never get to see all of them! A big cultural plus for its Florida host. Please support GPFF...

The festival encompasses a huge range of film and documentary sources across the world - fantastic!

This is a great way to promote really important messages! The programme is interesting, varied and inspiring.

Last year was my very first time attending the Global Peace Film Festival. The films I saw were very enlightening and thought-provoking. The events were diverse and fun! I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a film festival with a purpose.

Have had the pleasure of screening 2 of my films at the GPFF (Miss Tibet: Beauty i n Exile and Time for Ilhan). This festival is a gem. From its mission to the hospitality extended to the filmmakers, along with the festival staff & audiences' passion, really a unique and special organization.

We were honored to have our film, "The Nuns, The Priests, and The Bombs" selected for the 2018 Global Peace Film Festival. Nina and Kelly did an outstanding job of planning and executing the event, and their team of volunteers were eager to assist in any way to make it a positive experience. As a filmmaker, I highly recommend this festival. However, more importantly, the GPFF is that rare cultural oasis where films focused on peace and social justice have an opportunity to be shown and discussed. We all need the GPFF to keep up its great work!

Great film festival for films trying to make an impact in the world. They chose our film (www.showmedemocracy.com) for the festival and even offered a travel stipend. Excited to see how they get audiences to think how they can take action after seeing documentaries. Will definitely apply again.

What a fantastic festival and group of people! It is clear that the organizers are deeply committed to social justice, diverse perspectives and stories that can further cultural change. There is so much care given to connecting filmmakers and artists to each other and to audiences in the Orlando area. It was a pleasure to screen our film and I hope we have more opportunities to work with GPFF in the future!

Being invited to screen two films at the festival solidifies my hope that I make films of inherent social and public value. There are so many festivals out there but only a handful that focus on important subject matter for a higher cause such as The Global Peace Film Festival and it is an honor to screen there. I hope to have many more!

They go above and beyond the typical film festival experience. It's clear that GPFF lives a mission statement, and that they actively succeed in their vocation of spreading awareness and compassion.

GPFF is a great organization that presents an annual film festival in and around Winter Park. They are well organized and low key which makes it easy and non-traumatic to submit a film. The venues are perfect for the size audience one would expect. There is ample time for discussion after the screening which allows to discuss items that were not included in the film. I was very grateful that they chose my documentary on Edwin Osgood Grover who was Professor of Books at Rollins for the 2018 festival. https://vimeo.com/209957291

It was an honor to screen our film, Nothing To Do, at The Global Peace Film Festival. We’ve been to a number of festivals during the past year. GPFF was among the best. It’s well organized with great communication and opportunities to meet other filmmakers and sponsors at mixers and dinners. The audiences (we screened twice) were engaged and we had wonderful post screening discussions. I highly recommend the Global Peace Film Festival.

It was a great festival. I had the pleasure to screen my documentary, An Edited Life, twice during this incredible weekend. What I appreciated the most was the time given at the end of the screening to get to know the audience and answer questions. It is always good to establish a connection with viewers and share the journey with them. I would definitely recommend this festival and hopefully I will come back soon!

Great organization that shows great films, and makes sure they have an impact. Communicates well in advance, sends detailed reports after the screenings. Great work.

The goal of this festival is to showcase films with a purpose, films which have at their core the desire to teach and uplight humanity. Each year, the festival is curated with international stories -- sometimes harrowing, sometimes inspirational -- that expose issues that many here in America would not ordinary have the opportunity to learn about. Topics generally include poverty, women's rights, and environmental justice. Because it is located near a college campus, it gives young people an opportunity to open their eyes to current affairs and then bring this material back to their classrooms to open these topics up for further discussion. As an attending filmmaker, I felt the organizers went out of their way to make us feel comfortable, provide us with appropriate lodging opportunities, and open up a variety of events for the filmmakers to come together and share ideas. The Global Peace Film Festival is one of the best film festivals to both attend and to come as a filmmaker to share and speak about your film.

After moving into the community I was introduced to GPFF through the executive director, Nina Streich. Once hearing the excellence and importance of the film festival to this area of the country, especially, I had to volunteer. The quality and diversity of the film programs over the last few years has not only been informative, educational, and beautifully presented, but also have instilled an energy in getting involved at a local and national level. Thus, the success of this festival!

The Global Peace Film Festival continues to be relevant and important during these uncertain times, and it's still my favorite film festival. Nina, Kelly and the many festival volunteers have created a welcoming home for documentary filmmakers. I look forward to it every year, even if I'm not screening my own project. The GPFF is a wonderful asset to the Central Florida arts community.

More than a film festival, this is a movement that continues to affect change long after the house lights come back on.

Experiencing the Global Peace Film Festival for the first time in 2017 was a highlight of my year. I learned so much in such a short period of time and I cannot wait to see what 2018 has in store!

GPFF has been instrumental in bringing important stories to a greater audience.

This is a wonderful festival! The hosts, the films , and the audiences are all excellent. The Global Peace Film Festival is a truly engaged community. I was there with my film The Good Mind last year, and really enjoyed the whole experience. Highly recommended!!

Every year I look forward to The Global Peace Film Festival (GPFF) it is is such an important festival and truly brings the world of important films to Central Florida! I can think of no greater aim than that of GPFF which "uses the power of the moving image to further the cause of peace on earth." This organization is solidly run with great passion and commitment not just to high quality films but as a support system for filmmakers. I am a huge fan!

The Global Peace Film Festival (GPFF) is one of Orlando's (and surrounding areas)
best cultural and cinematic adventure! I say adventure because the GPFF takes
viewers into the global and local world of peacemakers. It's an exciting adventure
to see people around the world working for a more peaceful and prosperous life.
Here in the U.S. we take for granted that bombs do not drop on our heads as a matter of
daily life. Others around the world do not take life or peace for granted. Every year the
GPFF helps us appreciate peace and life just a bit more. The GPFF is a cinematic and cultural treasure Orlando is proud to call its own.

The Global Peace Film Festival has become one of the most uplifting weeks of the year for me. While the subject matter of the films is varied the theme is the same, How can we make this world a better place?

The movies I was able to view at this event were so enlightening ! There are so many events taking place all over the world that these film makers are able to share with viewers. This is a definite on my list of events to attend. It’s already on my calendar for 2018.

This was my first experience with a "peace film festival" (as opposed to a regular film festival, I guess) and it far exceeded my expectations. Despite coming on the heels of Hurricane Irma, the show went on with utmost care and professionalism.

The festival planners truly curate a festival with high-quality films at its core--every film I saw knocked it out of the park. They also take a very broad view of what a peace film is, not just focusing on film that chronicles peacemakers in the face of conflict/war, but that rather examines people and places that are trying to make the world a better place in general.

I also really appreciated the small scale and Southern hospitality of the festival. Fest board members really take you under their wing: driving you to any and all screenings (not just your own), getting dinner with you, introducing you to local Orlando residents, and generally showing you a really good time. This fest really has a personal touch combined with a quality curator's eye toward film.

(Maria De La O, producer, The Promised Band)

Thank you to the Global Peace Film Festival team, the Executive Director Nina Streich and the Artistic Director Kelly DeVine for the flawless organization and the great selection of films. As a filmmaker, I was proud to be a part of it. It is a very inspiring event.

Nina and Kelly--and the whole GPFF staff--always curate a wonderful collection of sensitive and provocative treatments of the human condition, imploring us all to work to improve it. Significantly, the go the extra mileS to engage the community at large in their annual enterprise by reaching out to local academic, professional, and other communities to share the message of peace and humanity. And they reach out to filmmakers to assure that they know their work is both welcome and worthwhile in a world where value is generally measured in sales and audience size. They are like few others in the film festival circuit. Their niche is critical to filmmakers who have a voice that is often otherwise unheard. Thank you!

I'm a director of documentary film and TV and I've been fortunate to have participated in many film festivals over the year. This festival ranks with the best of them in terms of filmmaker experience and audience impact. We were incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to bring our film to an entirely new community. The festival organizers were well organized and dedicated, and even in the aftermath of hurricane Irma they managed to put on a memorable and impactful festival event. I hope we can come back with another film in the near future!

This is the second time I have brought a documentary to the Global Peace Film Festival and this year was every bit as rewarding as the first time in 2012 with our film "Trial By Fire: Lives Re-Forged." I love the GPFF mission and their broad and inclusive interpretation of peace. We feel honored that our current documentary, "The Buddy System" got to be a part of the 2017 festival. The GPFF has cultivated true audience engagement within the community of Winter Park and beyond. They have also the added element of engaging the academic community at Rollins College makes this festival extra special. From Kelly's thoughtful and incisive comments about our film, to Nina organizing and personally greeting us at the high school where we spoke to young film students, to Josh always being tuned into where we were and where we needed to go, we felt taken care of every step of the way. In addition, the GPFF mission doesn't stop after the festival ends! Nina and Kelly have both offered to help us rally more support when we have an upcoming screening in New York and are always interested in advising us on greater community engagement. As a filmmaker, I also greatly appreciate receiving a funds to put towards our travel expenses. I know of very few festivals who do this. It is a deeply meaningful gesture and one that both honors us as artists and respects the work that we do. Kudos to the entire team!

I have been going to GPFF since the year it opened. It has been an exciting, enjoyable, educational experience. It is needed even more now as we must,absolutely must, gain insight into different cultures to promote understanding and global communication . I look forward to another GPFF to widen my horizons in the coming year. Linda

We partnered with GPFF on a documentary screening, and it was a great success!

Fantastic project. Every year, the Festival exceeds itself in quality of entries and breadth of topics. Its well organized, on a very modest budget and with mostly volunteer staff. I have worked in the film industry as well as for a number of nonprofit organizations and Global Peace Film Festival stands out in both fields.

I have closely followed the Global Peace Film Festival since its inception in 2003. The Festival programs excellent films relevant to the social issues and forward looking solutions that mark our conflicted times. But of equal importance is the successful outreach and community engagement that has been a central focus of the Festival's staff and Executive Director. They have established a practice of working with national, Florida-wide and especially local Orlando organizations to both build audience for the Festival and support for the local organizations. From my perspective as a former program director at Free Speech TV and as Executive Director of Deep Dish TV, this festival has more measurable impact than many larger festivals.

The Global Peace Film Festival has partnered with the Peace and Justice Institute at Valencia College for the past 5 years. The Festival has brought wonderful and eye-opening films to our students and community. Nina Streich, the Executive Director, has an amazing ability to connect filmmakers with our audiences to bring us an even more in depth understanding of the film and the message. Orlando is fortunate to have such high class film festival that welcomes so many amazing filmmakers to our community and spreads the message of peace and justice through the arts.

The Global Peace Film Festival is a top-notch organization that provides the community with a great public service--good films about social justice. I've been pleased to partner with Global Peace a number of times under the auspices of the LWV of Florida and Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. I look forward to continuing to support Global Peace and the tremendous public service they provide to our communities!

Patti Brigham, Orlando

An incredible film organization and event providing great film that's meant to help us think and see the world through many viewpoints and beliefs.

The GPFF is an invaluable tool for awareness and education on a great variety of social and environmental subjects.

I've attended the Global Peace Film Festival for the past four years. I enjoy films, but this is different...I get to watch films AND help make a difference in people lives. It's also, in turn, made an impact in my life as a result. The Festival made me more aware of what global peace is; ranging from finding ones inner peace to young children living with exposure to radiation in Japan. I invite friends to join me every year, hoping they're impacted in the same way as I and that they'll spread the information out to their networks. It’s also sparked an interest in my family getting move involved locally. The documentaries are insightful, impactful and make you want to get involved. It brings together a diverse group ranging from young to old in four days through various channels – art, film and discussion. It draws together local resources to assist those who wish to get involved and start right here in their own community; while also providing global resources. They also provide an online Festival of short films during the same timeframe for those who live outside of the region and cannot attend. I'm a fan and will continue to follow the Festival for years ahead.

The Global Peace Film Festival is without peer in using such a powerful medium to provide such an array of insights into such a broad range of topics at such a reasonable price. The GPFF isn't about entertainment. It's about information. It's about motivation to action. It's about making our world better, one community at a time. Every resident of Central Florida should mark the dates September 18-24, 2017, on their calendars right now. And visitors to the region should make sure their trip coincides with those dates so they too can experience the GPFF.

What a privilege it has been over the last decade or so to work with the great folks at the Global Peace Film Festival. The extraordinary selection of films, combined with the many opportunities for community interaction, and the inspiring direction of the organization in regard to its "don't just sit there" campaign all combine to help create a world-class film festival designed to engage people to help create a better community and world. It has been a privilege for our organization to partner throughout the years with GPFF.

GPFF impacts lives and hearts through the sharing of films and other visual art. Through a partnership, our organization watches as hearts ignite toward a global perspective. Individuals rise from the audience to become world-changers after viewing a moving documentary on an issue at large in the world. Poverty, Slavery, Gender equality and more are given an audience through this annual experience. GPFF changes lives and as a result, raises up warriors to end suffering globally. An amazing mission!

Global Peace Film Festival programs films on important topics that are hard to find anywhere else. It is a great opportunity to enjoy them together, talk about the topics, listen in on panels that make us think as well as feel. An informed public makes better local and world citizens. It's a gem and that's why I'm a part of it!

The Global Peace Film Festival has put on one of my favorite events in the greater Orlando area every year I have lived in the city! They consistently offer insights and views into some of the most compelling and complex issues of our times through the films shown at the festival. I was so impressed with GPFF's efforts that I joined their board of directors! The Global Peace Film Festival helps bring unique perspectives and stories to light in the name of creating a better world.

This was my first time attending The 2016 Global Peace Film Festival. The events of the festival totally exceeded my expectations. There were so many choices regarding films and forums with a wide range of interesting and enlightening topics and issues. I loved the Enzian Theatre & Cafe event where "Love is Strange" was shown. Most impressive was that the Executive Director, Nina Streich, was able to get John Lithgow to film a special message about the festival before the movie was shown. The Mad Cow Theatre featured a live one-man show, "Bearing Witness", by Tom Bird. I believe it was the first time the festival has offered a live play and it was powerful and impressive. I also loved the Orlando schools arts competition awards held at City Hall. The artwork from such young talent was outstanding. I highly recommend attending this festival for an enriching experience and I hope to return again next year.

I was invited to the Global Peace Film Festival with my film 'Under the Same Sun' (Ek Surya Ke Taley). It is a very important festival with beautiful and meaningful films that educate, captivate and inspire audiences to take action. The festival is very well organized and gives filmmakers an opportunity to meet like-minded artists who care about creating change in our world. Orlando is very fortuante that Nina and Kelly have dedicated so many hours to create a festival that is making difference in the lives of its citizens.

I enjoyed the full range of experiences at the Global Peace Film Festival. The films were deeply moving, fulfilling the need for visionary solutions to real humans needs in our society. The conversations and social events were exhilarating and filled with inspiring people. I was impressed with the board members and their commitment to the festival. Overall, I left Orlando touched and inspired by the filmmakers, the organizers, the staff and the board at the GPFF.

This was the first festival we had the opportunity to attend and we were not disappointed. Nina and Kelly care deeply about the filmmakers and each of the films, which is something not all festivals have. Our first screening was amazing. It was packed and we were answering questions for almost an hour. The festival creates the space in which these important discussions can be had. The interaction with other people who may or may have a lot of knowledge about the issue is valuable for the filmmakers, the audience and ultimately for society.

For the second time in four years I have
been invited by the leaders' of The Global
Peace Film Festival to have my film
The Nuclear Requiem be.a selection in the
2016m GPFF. The dedication by Nina Streich and Kelly DeVine creates an environment for the important and challenging stories to be told, such as my topic..the continuing. Present of nuclear weapons.
Robert E Frye, Producer and Director

Global Peace Film Festival is the fiscal sponsor of our documentary FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO about the intersection of religion, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Working with them, it has been easy to collect tax-deductible donations from our supporters. We have benefited from the expertise of GPFF as relates to various aspects of the film such as grant writing and audience engagement. Our team also appreciates the mission of GPFF and how well it aligns with the films we are making. I feel this organization is really making a difference by exposing people to a wide variety of important global issues and solutions, as well as engaging them in change.

The Global Peace Film Festival was an inspiring, well put together festival that has a long future in front of it. The festival provides a platform for growth and change that I was lucky to be a part of.

I was just at the GPFF and had an amazing experience. The line up of films were exceptional -- representing communities from all parts of the globe. David Pavlosky and I presented our documentary PUZZLES: When Hate Came to Town to enthusiastic audiences -- and the Q&A following the screenings stand out as one of the most profound discussions we have had with this film.

Hi I'm Rick. About 5years ago I was privileged enough to be part of the global peace film festival. Our film the homeless documentary Take Me Home was selected that year. It's because of the global peace film festival, that millions have become aware of the issue of homelessness and who the homeless are. I can never say thank you enough to the director Nina and everyone else in this organization. If you want to the film, contact the organizers. Oh yes, I was homeless during the creation of the fil, and now I'm not because someone who saw the film was able to see the good in me. And helped me get off this street. Here's the good part. That lady who helped me, Tracy, we are getting married next year.

So glad I found this Film Festival very inspirational and rewarding.

As an independent filmmaker interested in community bridge-building and social justice causes, the Global Peace Film Festival was an ideal platform in which to share my work. This extremely well organized event brings together people from various backgrounds and interests to not only share films but to interact with one another on important issues in a constructive, engaging and positive context. The festival hosts and volunteers were unbelievably warm and welcoming and I look forward to going back to Orlando one day and experiencing their hospitality once again! Best Wishes!

I attended the screening of my film at the GPFF, along with one of the protagonists of the film, and we both were impressed by the presentation of the film. A knowledgeable presenter introduced the film and moderated a post-screening question and answer session. The films were well publicized, the filmmakers' transportation to the festival was subsidized, and the projection was well done. I hope to attend the festival as a spectator in the future to view more inspiring films about the many facets of peacemaking.

This organization encompasses all aspects of what you expect from a nonprofit....their entire mission is to create a better world. The film part of it is just the conduit used to help bring people together and create and generate ideas that better one person or an entire group. In doing so they also give back to the community where it is held by incorporating the students and local businesses. It is an enjoyable and encouraging experience and we are honored to have it hosted in our city.

I attended the 2015 GPFF representing our film 'Inside Peace' about men incarcerated in a Texas Jail who find their humanity through a peace class and start to turn their lives around. If peace can be found in prison, it can be found anywhere. When we first learned about the festival, we knew it was a perfect fit and our experience with the festival execs and organizers went beyond our expectations. From the initial communication, the attention to detail, the publicity they gave us, the quality of the booklet they created on all the films, offers for rides, to the staff of amazing volunteers, including wonderful students from both local high schools and universities and the connections they have with local peace organizations both civic and academic was an important blend resulting in a well run festival on a topic that surely should be at the top of everyone's list of important concerns. Bravo to GPFF for hosting and curating such a strong selection of diverse films on peace.

Global Peace Film Festival serves extremely important causes and informs American people what is really happening in the country and the world, and how we can live on this planet more peacefully. The festival was very well organized by very professional and hard-working staffs. Their selection of films touch the audience, including myself, profoundly. I hope they will be seen by more and more people in the future.

Global Peace Festival fills an important space by programming films that seek to raise consciousness and strengthen community ties. The films they bring together to show are consistently excellent and the event itself is well organized.

I have participated in hundreds of film festivals and this is hands down one of the best in the world. Such amazing films but also a real attention to serving the local community. OUTSTANDING!!!

The Global Peace Film Festival in Orlando is well organized, and I like the movies which are selected to run. Looking forward to next year.

Enjoyed the short film and documentary that we saw. A little technical problem with one film caused a delay but in the end, we heard more from the film producer/director and it turned out to be a bonus. Being reminded of issues that lead to more justice and peace can only make our world a more peaceful place. High Five for the Global Peace Film Festival. We just need to get more youthful faces in attendance!

Central Florida's (Orlando/WinterPark) Global Peace Film Fest, now going on its 13th year, is an annual highlight! Instead of getting on a plane, as we all love to do, the world comes to you, with all its dynamic challenges. No matter what the selections, these 50+ films shed new light on issues of the day that largely escape the mainstream media. It' s one of the best investments in continuing education for any citizen of this planet! As Robert Kennedy Jr has said "we're one of the best entertained people on the planet, but one of the least informed". With GPFF, let's change that! Charley Williams/WP

GPFF is not only giving voice to beautiful stories that add diversity and richness to the public dialogue, but also forwarding community-building and inspiring grassroots activism on important global and local issues. I have enjoyed supporting and attending since 2012. Thank you GPFF!

Going to the Global Peace Festival for the first time this year was an amazing experience for me, as well as for my best-friend, who I brought along. The other volunteers were very fun and cultured. My personal favorite from the movies we had the privilege to watch was Listopad. I never thought one of my favorite movies would turn out to be a Czech indie film, and so I was delightfully suprised at home amazing it was!

Bravo and thank you for reawakening in me an appreciation of the The Nation with the documentary Hot Type: 150 Years of the Nation. Decades have past since a last reading, and it was a bit of a surprise to find the magazine more vital than ever under editor Katrina vanden Heuvel and her staff's intelligent selfless dedication. Also good to know the future of an unfettered liberal viewpoint will continue with The Nation's great intern program to carry its message into the digital age.

This was my second year as a volunteer, it is the highest quality, bringing to us films that deal with the human condition. My only disappointment is that more don't attend. The audiences should be huge! Somehow, the word needs to get out more than it is and I wish I had a solution.

This is my fifth year attending the Global Peace Film Festial, and each year they set the bar higher and higher. From the films, to meeting the film makers, panel discussions and juicy issues that are not just considered but suggestions are given to take action. I get a charge from the people and the environment created by the venue spaces, and look forward to it each year. The GPFF team sets the standard for a week of cause-driven, thought-provoking, action-oriented events!

Excellent film selection & inclusion of local films, highlighting out reached in our own community greatly enhanced the global peace film festival!

This Festival far exceeds its resources to provide a film festival that is crucial to giving exposure to filmmakers from around the world that produce films that can go a long way in bring cultural understanding and peace to the world. It brings together different cultures, religions and races that may have harbored certain bias without the exposure to this event. It reaches out the the local youth of the community, as well as the adults, and exposes them to the possibilities.

I was so impressed with everyone at the festival - the organizers, the staff, volunteers and the other filmmakers. The GPFF is one of the best film festivals I have been lucky enough to take part in.
World class!

As a filmmaker dedicated towards creating films that promote, cultivate, and communicate peace, I am beyond impressed with how Global Peace Film Festival has facilitated these real-life actions and the films that promote them.

I have been attending the GPFF for 7 years and joined the board three years ago. Every year the GPFF has great potential to be life changing for not only the persons/places in the movies but just as importantly for the viewer. The many fantastic documentary films are carefully selected each year to inform us, through extremely creative entertainment, about pressing global and local issues. We work to create a platform which makes change not only possible but even easily achievable. Our slogan is "It Starts Here" and how accurate this is. The real kicker in attending such an enjoyable festival is the wonderful ideas of change for a more sustainable and peaceful society, that would earlier have seemed overwhelming, take on a completely different vibe.

As a member of the Peace and Justice Initiative of Valencia College, I can say that we are so happy to have a partnership with the Global Peace Film Festival. The Festival brings beautiful, inspiring films (and filmmakers) to Orlando every year and I've witnessed individuals feel impacted and ready to take action as a result. More people should acknowledge and support the incredible work of the Global Peace Film Festival--they really are trying to make a difference in Orlando, and in our world.

I have been attending the Global Peace Film Festival for several years — it's been in Orlando for 12 — and I have always enjoyed the experience.

The festival attracts great films (primarily documentaries) and many of the filmmakers attend and interact with the audience after their screenings. There are also interesting panel presentations and other events outside of the screening schedule.

This festival is an important piece in the cultural fabric of Orlando.

(The only thing holding it back from a 5-star review — I wish it was bigger! I recently joined the board of the festival and hope to expand its reach in 2015.)

The Global Peace Film Festival was the perfect place for us to premiere our film and showcase our program!

GPFF is a fantastic festival. I am never disappointed in the selection of movies, or the professionalism of the event staff. I most appreciate meeting the filmmakers and catching a glimpse into the world of other people through the film selections. This helps keep me "global minded", compassionate, and empathetic. What could be better?

I am not connected to Global Peace Film Festival, but was promoting the International Day of Peace. I was able to attend many of the films and found all of them to be professional and actually better than I expected. Having representatives of the films their to answer question was a terrific bonus. As an action step in response to the information gained from one of the films, I am working on a new project.

In this time when we need global peace more than ever before, the Global Peace Film Festival offers an accessible platform for independent filmmakers who care about worldwide unity. Director Nina Streich's dedication to the integrity of this festival is the foundation for its success. Art is a powerful agent of change, and the GPFF provides access to positive solutions to a growing concern.

The Global Peace Film Festival was inspiring and transformative. The films showcased important, relevant, and powerful messages about critical social issues. In addition to the brilliant films, having the opportunity to chat with many of the film makers made the experience even more special. My students, colleagues, and I feel grateful to have been a part of this amazing learning experience and now feel ready to engage in social action. Thank you GPFF!

I am aware of the work done by GPFF for more than decade. It brings to the attention of viewers the peace, human rights and development issues which are crucial for the benefit of humanity. It's role in advancing the culture of peace is truly commendable.

GPFF needs greater recognition globally.

The Global Peace Film serves in a powerful role by introducing diverse voices through the medium of films to our students , and the larger community, films with extraordinary educational and social messages. Truly a positive contribution to the promotion of Peace and Justice, and what a gift to Central Florida. Thank You!

After attending numerous film festivals over the last few months with my Oscar nominated short documentary, I must say the GPFF ranks as one of the best film festivals I have had the pleasure of participating in.

Their attention to detail regarding the comfort of the filmmaker is outstanding. And their public outreach before, during and after the festival is 2nd to none.

Because the films in the festival deal with pressing social issues, I felt it was wonderful that the organizers had radio and press folks ready and willing to cover the issues embodied in our films.

The folks who put the festival together were always available for any questions we filmmakers may have had, and the volunteers were also extremely helpful throughout the entire event. I would love to be a part of the festival in the coming years - so I had better finish my next film quicker than my last!

Thanks to everyone at the GPFF!

Incredible Boutique Film Festival serving our Community with a greater understanding for Peace, Education and Understanding within all Social circles. A highly spirited Annual affair that incorporates beautiful Films that are issue oriented. A much needed Event serving a wide variety of International Nations by exposure to Film as Art. John Vizzusi, Filmmaker (Orlando, Florida USA)

This is the one film festival in Central Florida that I never miss. The films make a difference in so many lives it is truly an activist Film Festival and the film festival that supports local independent activist filmmakers. Thank You global peace Film Festival!

We are making the rounds with our documentary film and I will tell you that not all film festivals are created equal. The Global Peace Film Festival was a pleasure to be associated with. The staff and the volunteers went above and beyond to make our screenings successful. Kudos to GPFF and looking forward to returning!

The Global Peace Film Festival is one of the best festivals out there. As someone who has had his work in hundreds of festivals around the world, when I'm invited to screen at GPFF, I ALWAYS SAY "YES!" The films are amazing, the concurrent programming is wonderful and the vibe of the festival couldn't be better.

GPRR rocks!!

I have been making non fiction films for 25 years and have traveled to festivals around the world screening those films. I recently (Sept 2014) was a guest filmmaker at the Global Peace Festival where I screened a short film "The Marion Lake Story: Defeating the Mighty Phragmite" to engaged and attentive audiences.
This festival is one of the best programmes I have seen in years. Rather than focus on glossy high profile films and makers, this festival screens films that work well together and address peace from many angles. I saw many films and every one has lingered in my soul, making me think in new ways.
I wish this program could travel as it is so well thought out.
Even without a film in the festival I would attend again.
Bravo.
Greta Schiller

The Global Peace Film Festival has fantastic programming and energy. They also incorporate the messages of the films into work being done within the community.

This is always a great experience. It is wonderful to see so many films by bright, talented filmakers, some of whom are young filmakers whose works we can look foreward to for many years. Always a great line up of films.

This organization helped to advertise a film I made. I believe them to be very motivated and kind. They do a great job advertising lots of interesting and important films.

There are so few initiatives worldwide that focus their full attention on solutions that are nonviolent. War, violent behavior and it's aftereffects are negatively impacting us all domestically and globally. This festival enables attendees to thoughtfully consider options to violence and and opens up a public discussion which brings us closer to considering and embracing nonviolent solutions.

This year I attended 13 of the Global Peace Film Festival's presentations. Each one was excellent in its own right. All were informative and many motivated me to become more involved in issues that concern all of us. I will attend again next year.

This unique forum brings together the visionaries, producers and consumers like no other. To understand how the art of film making is conceptualized, created, displayed and the lives affected toward making change happen is awe inspiring.

One of the best Global Peace Film Festivals yet. Thanks to Nina Streich for bringing quality films and their makers to Central Florida.

This year I only attended two films. Each one was well done and dealt with subjects about which I had little knowledge. We are so lucky to have easy access to this festival. I'm already looking forward to next year.

My time at the Global Peace Film Festival benefitted me in several ways: reinforced power of visual to communicate a need for social change or progress in realizing social change, locally, nationally and internationally. Some of my perspectives were enforced helping me to move forward with my own work for social change. IN addition I connected with some people I doubt I would have encountered in other arenas.

The Global Peace Film Festival was great this year. The films keep getting better. The weather was a bit rough on the attendees this year (buckets of rain) but that did not dampen the spirit of the organizers or attendees from what I could tell. One of the neatest things about the GPFF is that the director, Nina arranges for the film directors to be in attendance. After many of the films the film director will talk about what inspired them to make the film and take questions from the audience. This is the icing on the cake for me. I can't wait until next year. I am so inspired I want to volunteer my time to help this organization. If I could give ten stars I would. My hat is off to anyone who looks to inspire peace on earth!

Each year I have a different experience at the GPFF. This year I was reminded how fortunate we all are to have the chance each day to be kind, forgiving, compassionate, inspired. It's a wonderful feeling. Thank You Global Peace Film Festival for the heartfelt films each year.

The Global Peace Film Festival is a great friend and partner in the community!

The Global Peace Film Festival has been my spiritual Home for the last 4 years. We have screened two of our inspiring movies THE INVOCATION and FEMME and every time it was a sold out house full of Peace and Love. The dedication of Nina Streich and Kelly Devine is a rare and much appreciated extra token if you get lucky to be invited to be at the GPFF. For sure I will be honored to come back year after year and support this great team and enlightening film festival.

GPFF is on the cutting edge of what a film festival should be. They have taken the experience beyond just screening the films to engaging the community to really make a difference. I had the pleasure of being part of that experience last winter when the coordinated a visit from luminaries from the U.S. and Nigeria to work with the local colleges to expand the mission of a film into action for good. AMAZING WORK THEY ARE DOING!

For 11 years now, the Global Peace Film Festival has enriched the lives of local Central Florida residents and visitors to the area. The wide range of films presents such an interesting and diverse array of topics, and there is always a new perspective to be gained from watching. The panel discussions and Q&A with directors are always fascinating. Peace in all its forms is the goal in some way of everyone in the world, and the more we can be exposed to situations and unique problem solvers, the more action we as individuals can take. The Global Peace Film Festival is an inspiration to make the world a better place.

What a great way to expand your consciousness to people and topics of the world that do not get mainstream media exposure! Through being involved with the film festival, I met people from all over the globe who shared interesting perspectives. The films are top notch and are filled with real content that makes you laugh, cry, get angry, feel compassion and above all, makes you think. The Global Peace Film Festival is a part of the solution- one week left me feeling inspired and hopeful about what is really possible in the world!

Not sure how the Orlando area got so lucky as to have this first-rate film festival here. Thoughtful, timely films shown in and around the gorgeous Rollins College location make for excellent venues. Thanks to Nina Streich for creating the GPFF and for every year it being as good or better than the previous one.

Great festival that will only get better. Enriching content, and the quality of films in this genre continue to get better and better.

My documentary film was shown in the 2012 edition of Global Peace Film Festival. I have been to many festivals around the world, and Global Peace has been by far the most friendly and welcoming festival I have been to. The focus isn't on red carpets, parties and prizes, but rather where it should be: on the films, filmmakers and audiences. The screenings were filled with interested audiences that asked great questions at the post-screening Q and A sessions and that is what filmmakers really desire- for their films to be seen by as many people as possible. The staff of the festival gave personal attention to all attending filmmakers and did everything they could to help them make the most out of the great networking opportunities the festival provides. The films are superbly curated, the atmosphere most welcoming, and the focus of the festival never once veers from the films and the issues they raise. 5 stars!!!

An unimaginable but enlightening immersion in the sorrow, tenaciousness and hope that people around the world demonstrate in their offering solutions to many of the world's most pressing problems of gender inequity, injustice, and ecological damage. The festival in the word's of my esteemed colleague reveals a "zeitgeist" often ignored by commercial media and lost to the business of film distribution as it is practiced today in America. Without the festival's sensitive directors and insightful filmmakers one would never know a world exists to inspire our "better angels" to keep doing the work needed to nourish communities of an engaged, ethical, and intelligent citizenry.

This was a great festival experience. They really worked hard to make the filmmakers feel welcome. Even though they have a small operating budget, they gave a travel stipend to filmmakers (some fests with double the budget don't do that), which demonstrates to me that their commitment is to the art of filmmaking, and celebrating filmmakers and artists, not just making money. The artistic director of the festival personally drove me around to screenings and was instrumental in helping me get my film distributed a year after the festival was over. Who does that? Only true champions of the arts. Awesome fest.

I really learned a lot from the documentaries on Grameen Micro-financing and Street Paper. I enjoyed the perspective that we are all want to be Entrepreneurs when given a chance. Also, providing the ability for people on the street to earn a living by selling the Street Paper was not only inspirational but it contained heart warming stories.

I'm impressed with the goals of the festival - world peace in every sense of that word. The festival films I have seen have been thought-provoking and inspirational. I wish them unbounded success.

I have had a great working relationship with the Global Peace Film Festival over the years. Their motto and philosophy when it comes to film selection is very similar to my filmmaking motto and so I've always felt very honoured that they selected my films for screenings over the years. The sense of community and dedication they have shown to filmmakers attending the Festival has been just wonderful. Thanks again GPFF! - Peter Hegedus

My thanks to Nina and Kelly for creating a forum where film as art and story connects us to our better selves. I believe that art has that capacity and I send my gratitude to the GPFF for creating a place to foster a more peaceful world.

The Global Peace Film Festival's mission is to use creative media as a catalyst to inspire and educate people to initiate positive change in their local communities and worldwide. An ambitious but exciting mission. It is always rewarding to see and hear from audience members who have been moved to take action because of a film they have seen or a speaker they have heard.

My first experience at the GPFF was as a volunteer. I really enjoyed helping at this festival which has for goal to bring awareness to communities on many issues (hunger, nuclear wastes, PTSD, global warming...and many more) via the medium of film! What best way to communicate and learn than through the 7th art! Cinema! My next experience was as a filmmaker and i can only say that it was a honor to be part of the movement of the global peace film festival. Keep em coming!

As a filmmaker, I absolutely loved the Global Peace Film Festival. Kelly, Nina and all the volunteers made me feel appreciated. Both venues were good and run well and the audiences at each screening were wonderful and very engaged. The best part for me in attending a film festival and that I get a lot out of interacting and networking with people in the audience as well as other filmmakers. This festival provided wonderful opportunities for networking to happen. I only wish I could have been there for the entire event, to see more of the films and meet more attendees. From my perspective as a filmmaker, it's at the top of my list of my favorite festival experiences.

The "Global Peace Film Festival" is a wonderful event because it does everything a great film festival should. The organizers Nina and Kelly have it down to a fine art, from the selection of thought-provoking and relevant films and well-organized events to providing a wide array of opportunities for filmmakers to engage with students, audience members and the media in a meaningful way. My only complaint is with myself - I wish I could have stayed longer!

An awesome Film festival that gives new and upcoming filmmaker place to show their film.

The Global Peace Film Festival is an amazing collaborative event between the film & video communities, the non-profit/good deed communities, the risk taking artistic communities & the Local community. GPFF utilizes the expertise of a wide range of working professionals to make the event not only one of a love of film, but also a learning experience & in most cases a catalyst for change in our world. No one walks away from even the smallest of participations without having an experience they not only want to share, but feel compelled to share within their world.

There is something wonderful and often amaaazing that i've learned from every film I've seen. It's been a awesome way to have my eyes opened to the world. Thank you to everyone who works so hard to make it happen!!

Nina started with a dream that she turned into a reality. That echoes the theme of The Global Peace Film Festival. Each one of us must do our small part to make the world a better place each day we walk the Earth. I applaud Nina for keeping her dream and the dream of many filmmakers and activists alive!

Had a great experience watching "Street Papers". It was insightful, informative and well-made. It is wonderful to see work like this and I applaud the Global Peace Film Festival!

Despite its small size, the Global Peace Film Festival has giant aspirations to change the world through the art of film and storytelling. It's very difficult to find the kind of enthusiasm among its organizers, attendees and filmmakers that you'll find at this festival. Film may be the medium, but the message of peace and harmony is always loud and clear.

Awesome program for college students. Extremely eye opening.

As a year- long volunteer since 2010, I had a transformative & healing experience on a personal level, and invaluable educational & professional experience helping to manage the Global Peace Film Festival - an event where you can meet incredible people. As a nonprofit created to inspire & promote peace & understanding through film, I watched it do so at Nina's helm - an organization evolving itself with more soul & community impact (locally, globally) as it grew in exceptional programming, reach & support. In turn, my own ideas of peace - the personal & social - were challenged & redefined, renewing my faith in the global social awareness toward peaceful & nonviolent solutions in all aspects of life. Awesome fest !

The Hope CommUnity Center in Apopka Florida is a community based service learning organization serving and empowering immigrants, farmworkers and other working poor families through education, advocacy and spiritual growth. For forty years this creative team of community organizers, educators and pastoral outreach workers has been responding to the signs of the times and adapting to both the ever new and unfortunately persistently constant issues affecting the lives of this marginalized and exploited population. Hope is active in working for comprehensive immigration reform and for the Dream Act. Our Know Your Rights and Safety Planning program helps undocumented immigrants exercise their rights and live with a little more sense of protection and security. Citizenship classes, ESOL and GED programs are geared to the person and are very community oriented. Alternate spring breaks,home stays, internships and other mutual encounters between college students and immigrant community members are part of our Service Learning Program which builds mutual communities of care and commitment. The basic philosophy of the organization is to use all programs as a vehicle for creating a sense of community, of family where each person is treated with dignity and respect, the talent, leadership and skills of all are fostered and together we work for social justice and change. We always bring students from our Sin Fronteras Youth Group and our staff to the wonderful films of the Global Peace Film Festival. We are grateful for the opportunity to participate and learn

This is a wonderful organization that showcases innovative and life changing films.

I was a volunteer at the very first Global Peace Film Festival in Orlando. I was so excited that such an amazing idea and group of people came together to make that special event happen! Since that time, I have seen the GPFF grow, expand, and play an increasingly more significant role in our community and in our state. More than just a film festival, it has become a way to engage students, colleges, organizations, community members, and filmmakers in dialogue, discussion, education, outreach, and, most of all, in year-round community building on issues of peace, justice, environmental protection, human rights, equality and many other pertinent and critical issues. It has been a place for filmmakers to show their work and for them to engage directly with their audiences. I fully support and applaud the GPFF! It is just what our area needed. It is an asset to our entire state!

Having watched the Global Peace Film Festival grow over the last few years has been like watching a child become an adult overnight. The films, and fans, have come out of the woodwork to support this global effort and align us under one message, "How can we each contribute to a better world?" The leadership and vision have "thought big" from the start, and continue to grow their purpose with the solicited input from the community and those involved around the world. In a city that is generally not considered an epicenter for global peace, the GPFF team has created this film festival as a "must see" in Orlando.