Documentary

Where on Earth is the Peace Movement?

Documentary Film Project by Sil Azevedo :: Updated, May 2025

Release scheduled for Spring, 2026

Story

Facing a world in constant war and violence, a filmmaker embarks on a search for wisdom, interviewing community leaders, artists, philosophers, historians, humanitarians and peace activists, asking the questions, “What does peace mean to you?”, “Is Peace on Earth possible?,” and “What can we do to make this a more peaceful world?”

Resonance

World Peace is an ideal that has eluded us throughout human history. While most people living on the planet today seem to have a desire for peace, somehow we always find ourselves involved in long, painful, costly and unnecessary wars. While history gives us little hope of ever achieving lasting universal peace, still the ideal remains. We must keep seeking ways to make our world a more peaceful place.

Point of View

As I write this proposal, the world is marked by deep tension — with the ongoing wars in Israel/Palestine and Russia/Ukraine, alongside many other devastating but often overlooked conflicts, such as those in Sudan, Syria, and the Congo. According to the Geneva Academy, there are currently more than 110 active armed conflicts around the globe.

This film seeks to spotlight the positive: the individuals and organizations working tirelessly to build a more peaceful world through intercultural exchange, humanitarian aid, and peace activism. Rather than cursing the darkness, our aim is to light a candle.

Audience

This is a film for everyone interested in a more peaceful world. Members and supporters of peace and social justice organizations around the world are a primary audience. Their sphere of influence is a second tier. The objective of this film is to encourage those who are in the trenches of the peace movement (for lack of a better term), to connect with like-minded individuals and organizations, and bring others from a passive pro-peace stance to a participatory role through local and international organizations.

Participants

We have already interviewed and filmed a number of inspiring people, including an artist born near Odessa (back then USSR, now Ukraine), raised near St. Petersburg, Russia, who immigrated to Israel and now lives in the U.S. — all her countries are at war! We’ve also documented sessions with a Jungian therapist, a theologian, international cultural exchange leaders, and most recently, a concert by a peace-activist singer-songwriter.

We are in contact with fascinating people, such as a Japanese-American student working with the Peace Cranes project; a Japanese philanthropist and WWII survivor of the carpet bombing of his city; a Brazilian naturalist collaborating with an Indigenous tribe seeking healing from violent attacks; and a landmine disarmament specialist in Cambodia — among others who have agreed to be part of this project.

We’ve accepted an invitation to attend and film the Japan Sister Cities Summit in September 2025, and are planning additional on-location shoots in Brazil, Cambodia, the U.S., and the Middle East.

Distribution

The film will be submitted to a range of local and international film festivals — both theme-specific (such as the Global Peace Film Festival) and general (such as the Dallas International Film Festival). We will partner with local chapters of humanitarian and peace organizations to host community screenings across the U.S. and internationally, beginning with groups featured in the film and expanding to others aligned with the shared mission of peace and social justice.

Following the festival and screening tour, we will submit the film to major streaming platforms in pursuit of a global online release. Promotion efforts will include social media campaigns, collaboration with partner websites, and outreach to relevant media outlets.

Activism

A dedicated film website and social media channels will feature information about all participating organizations, along with clear calls to action. Viewers will be encouraged to get involved and contribute in their own way to the ongoing efforts for social justice and global peace.

Join the Movement

We will share periodic updates about film production, behind the scenes and opportunities for collaboration at the local and global level. Let’s stay in touch!

Become a Sponsor

It is easy to participate in this project. We are looking for sponsors at all levels. Your financial support will enable us to produce this film, add a wind behind the sails of featured organizations and more. From small individual contributors to corporate sponsors, your participation can be a game-changer: