Peace On Earth Film Festival

POEFF in Partnership with Free Spirit Media

milissa — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:46:54 +0000

The Directors of the Peace On Earth Film Festival and the Board of Directors of Transcendence Global Media, NFP, are proud to announce a partnership with Chicago’s own Free Spirit Media, for the 2012 Peace On Earth Film Festival and … Continue reading →

A Different Kind of Hero to Our Youth

milissa — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:51:24 +0000

Most young people have nothing to do with the violence that bleeds through our neighborhoods, yet the fascination with violence and gangster heroes saturates youth culture. But some of Chicago’s youth have met a different kind of hero, whose documentary … Continue reading →

A Restorative Way of Life

milissa — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:21:46 +0000

Take a few minutes and read Robert Koehler’s profound and inspiring story, BUILDING COMMUNITY, BUILDING PEACE (released October 12, 2011 – commonwonders.com.). It is somewhat difficult to read, as Bob reminds us of the horrors of gang violence and its … Continue reading →

Stopping the Bullying Madness

milissa — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:29:25 +0000

The winner of the 2011 POEFF's Best Short Narrative and winner of the Student Choice Award for Most Inspiring Story was Ronan's Escape, by filmmaker A.J. Carter, www.ronansescape.com. I am blogging about this outstanding and very disturbing short, because of the seemingly unrelenting media coverage of teen and preteen suicides. This is not a critique of the media coverage - this subject needs to be out in the light of day. I only hope that the media coverage continues and that bullying doesn't become just another part of the human condition that is dysfuntionally accepted because "kids will be kids." The madness of children being pushed to the brink and ending their lives because of bullying and gay bashing is just unacceptable - and should be unacceptable to all of us, whether we are parents, teachers, administrators, neighbors, or just someone walking down a street who witnesses a kid being taunted, bullied, or worse.

I highly recommend A.J. Carter's film to get the anti-bullying dialogue going with both children and adults. Ironically enough, Ronan's Escape uses very little dialogue, but the impact of this film is immeasurable.

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47th Chicago International Film Festival

milissa — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:41:07 +0000

The Peace On Earth Film Festival will be back at the Chicago Cultural Center, Feb 23^rd through the 26^th, 2012. In the immediate, if you are looking for something extraordinary in film and festival presentation, with a lot of what the POEFF brings you, you won’t want to miss the 47^th Annual Chicago International Film Festival: October 6^th through the 20^th. The CIFF is one of the premier festivals in the world with 180 films, from 50 countries and over 45 films from first-time directors.

Here is but a few events – films, panels and Q&A/Interviews to watch for, functions we are planning on making:

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On Fire for Peace!

milissa — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:07:01 +0000

I hope everyone in the vicinity of the Chicago area will join Master of Ceremony, Nick Angotti ( Exec. Director and Co-Founder), of the Peace On Earth Film Festival and the Chicago Build the Peace Committee, at the PEACE DAY CELEBRATION, at the R.J. Daley Center Plaza, on Friday, September 23, noon to 1:00 p.m. The Chicago Build the Peace Committee presents a Call to Peace, with world music, cultural performances, speakers and a ceremony including flags of the world. This free annual celebration speaks to all races, cultures and beliefs, in the possibilities for all of us to live together in peace. Peace is possible, but it takes all of us doing our part in our own little corners of the world. One way those of us in the Chicago area can do our part is by simply showing up and supporting an event like this one. The collective presence of like-minded people is a powerful force for change. If you need to light a fire under yourself to show up for peace on Friday, take a read of our friend Bob Koheler's latest article: http://commonwonders.com/world/the-old-integrity/ Bob is an amazing writer who conisistently burns through the bs to the truth. Read up and see you Friday!! Continue reading →

I am Peace

milissa — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:14:39 +0000

Three days after the 10 year anniversary of 9/11, I stood in my kitchen at 5:30 a.m., preparing my lunch for the day, when suddenly I was struck by profound feelings of sadness and fear. It had taken a few … Continue reading →