The First International Peace and Film Festival was held in Orlando, Florida in November 2015. The idea for the festival followed a local peace festival held in November 2014 by the local Russian speaking community in Orlando. The festival was a response to the annexation of portions of Ukraine, bringing together East European and American attendees for a day of conversation and exchange. It was during this festival that the idea to bring all countries together for cultural exchange was conceived by festival director and founder, Jef Gray. The idea was not to address political or ideological differences, but instead to identify and celebrate commonalities among mankind in art, music, performance and independent film. When the festival opened a year later, over 78 countries had contributed films for the competition, and filmmakers, artists and performers from around the world attended. Films were viewed in an Orlando convention and resort center, with premiers held at the Orlando Science center. Attendees included dignitaries from embassies and consulates. View the selected films in the trailer wall link below.
The 2018 International Peace and Film Festival was held in Davenport, Florida in January 2018. The festival was held in a modern theater with a dedicated large screen and seating for the three day event. Filmmakers attended from around the world, receiving their recognition at the award ceremony which included performances from Golden Gates–a children’s cultural touring group from East European countries, and a fashion show featuring gowns by Inna Rudenko, an Orlando based designer. New categories for music videos were added and a magazine was developed after this festival to capture the awards, fashion and experience of the festival.
The 2020 International Peace and Film Festival concluded just a few weeks before the pandemic, making it the last time the event could be held for several years. The event included competing films from 93 countries, and was attended by filmmakers from several international cities. The festival expanded in 2020 to include live artists working just outside the doors of the theaters, more live performances, and guest speakers were included as well. The magazine concept continued, and a TV channel of the film trailers and other content was added on Roku. A YouTube channel was also developed to provide more exposure for rising filmmakers who competed in the festival.
