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World BEYOND War 2023 Virtual Film Festival: Celebrating Stories of Nonviolence

  • Friends of Pace e Bene Online Event (map)

Pace e Bene is endorsing this great online film festival on nonviolence. We hope you’ll check it out!

You're invited to join World BEYOND War for our 3rd annual virtual film festival, from March 11-25! This year's theme of "Celebrating Stories of Nonviolence" explores the efficacy of nonviolent action, from Gandhi's Salt March, to ending war in Liberia, to civil discourse and healing in Montana. Featuring live Q&A on Zoom with special guests, including Ela Gandhi, David Hartsough, Garett Reppenhagen, and more.

How the virtual film festival works:

  • 1 ticket gets you access to all 3 films & panel discussions.

  • 1 week before each panel discussion, you will get the screening link to watch the film on your own time leading up to the live discussion.

  • Then join us live on Zoom each Saturday in March from the 11th-25th to talk with key representatives from the films and special guests! The panel discussions will also be recorded if you can't join us live.

Register here!

Day 1 (March 11) of the film festival features the film "A Force More Powerful" about how nonviolent power can overcome oppression and authoritarian rule. We'll watch Part 1 which highlights 3 case studies: in the 1930s, Mahatma Gandhi leading a nonviolent movement to bring an end to British rule in India; in the 1960s, Gandhi's nonviolent methods were taken up by civil rights activists in the U.S. organizing to desegregate lunch counters; and in the 1980s, anti-apartheid activists leading nonviolent mass action and a powerful consumer boycott in South Africa.

Our panel discussion will include: Ela Gandhi, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, South African peace activist, and former Member of South African Parliament; David Hartsough, Co-Founder of World BEYOND War; and Ivan Marovic, Executive Director of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict.

Reserve your spot!

Day 2 (March 18) of the film festival features the film "Pray the Devil Back to Hell," which chronicles the remarkable story of the Liberian women who came together to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their shattered country. Armed only with white t-shirts and the courage of their convictions, they demanded a resolution to the country's civil war.

Our panel discussion will include: Vaiba Kebeh Flomo, who is featured in the film and was instrumental in bringing an end to Liberia's 14-year civil war through advocacy, protests, and political organizing; and Abigail E. Disney, the film's producer.

Day 3 (March 25) of the festival concludes with a discussion of the film "Beyond the Divide." In Missoula, Montana, a group of people from the "wrong side of the tracks" decided to commit an act of civil disobedience by painting a peace symbol on the face of an enormous communications panel. "Beyond the Divide" traces the aftermath of this act and follows the story of how two individuals, a former Vietnam explosives engineer and a fervent peace advocate, come to a deeper understanding of each other's differences through conversation and collaboration.

"Beyond the Divide" is a starting point for powerful conversations about civil discourse and healing. Our panel discussion features: Betsy Mulligan-Dague, who is featured in the film and is the Former Executive Director of the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center; Saadia Qureshi, who is a nonviolent communication skills trainer with Preemptive Love; and Garett Reppenhagen, a military veteran and the Executive Director of Veterans For Peace.