February 13, 2012 Berlin – "In the Land of Blood and Honey", the directorial debut of Angelina Jolie, will be honored with this year’s "Honorary Award for Opposing War and Genocide" at the Cinema for Peace gala taking place February 13th, 2012 at Berlin’s Gendarmenmarkt concert hall. The film tells the story of the love between a Serbian man and a Muslim woman, who realize, upon the outbreak of the Bosnian war, they not only stand on opposing sides, but the man is now a solider and the woman a prisoner of war. "In the Land of Blood and Honey" depicts the horrific violence of the civil war and makes a call for peace. Although today, the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina has been rectified, the film sends a powerful message. The cast of the film are a carefully selected team of Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian actors; they will also be honored at the gala.

„I wanted to make a film that would express, in an artistic way, my frustrations with the international community’s failure to intervene in conflicts in a timely and effective manner. I also wanted to explore and understand the Bosnian War, as well as broader issues such as women in conflict, sexual violence, accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and the challenge of reconciliation“, Angelina Jolie states. „It was the deadliest war in Europe since World War II, but sometimes people forget the terrible violence that happened in our time, in our generation, to our generation.”

Emphasis will be placed on Bosnia at this year’s Cinema for Peace gala as it has been a main focus of the Cinema for Peace Foundation. In November 2011, the foundation opened an office in Sarajevo in Bosnia Herzegovina, as recognition of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, which is the primary focus of the foundation. The foundation hopes to conduct over 10,000 interviews with witnesses and survivors of the massacre in order to bring clarity to the horrific event. The interviews will be made available in an online library and eventually the subject of documentary. Students, scientists and non-government organizations will provide detailed insight regarding the event of the massacre in Srebrenica during the war in former Yugoslavia. The international criminal court for former Yugoslavia has placed 161 accused war criminals before the court, these crimes included: crime against the humanity and genocide, for the first time however rape was seen as a separate crime against humanity.

Berlin, February 13^th, 2012 – This year’s Cinema for Peace Gala taking place on February the 13th at the Gendarmenmarkt concert hall in Berlin, honours Burma as one of the night’s central themes. In association with Universal Film, the Cinema for Peace Foundation brought further recognition to Burma by showing esteemed French film director, Luc Besson’s, most recent work „The Lady“, representing the life Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. The film as well as lead actress Michelle Yeoh will receive the “International Human Rights Film Award’’ at this year’s Gala. Amnesty International, Cinema for Peace, and the Human Rights Film Network present the award.

Over the past ten years, through the medium of film, Cinema for Peace has supported the struggle for human rights, social justice, humanitarianism, and environment protection; this year, Burma is of particular importance. In 2011, with a petition of over 12.000 signatures, Cinema for Peace demanded the release of activist and comedian Zarganar, after Aung San Suu Kyi’s urgent appeal to support human rights activists in Burma through the Cinema for Peace Gala. On October, 12th, 2011 Zarganar and 200 prisoners were released. In more recent development, Burma has seen additional release of captive prisoners, and the announcement of political elections, of which Aung Sann Suu Kyi will likely support. Since his release, Zarganar has organized his own film festival in Burma greatly intriguing the people of the nation with these serious issues.

Cinema for Peace also initiated the documentary film “The Prison Where I Live’’, with funding donated by Rex Bloomstein and the German comedian Michael Mittermeier. The film shows Rex Bloomstein’s interview with Zarganar under the military junta prior to his being held captive. Two years after the interview, Bloomstein and Mittermeier travelled to Burma to collect additional footage about Zarganar. Zarganar’s declaration as a voice for the Burmese, points out how his humour remains alive even under the rule of dictatorship.

Cinema for Peace will continue to take a stand for democracy, freedom of opinion, and human rights, through its fight for Burma.

Today the Cinema for Peace Foundation and ONE sent out an appeal to all Members of the German parliament urging them to invest funds that could be generated through a financial transaction tax in development aid. So far Germany has not honoured the obligations laid down by the MillenniumProject satisfactorily.

"The UN Millennium Project's analysis indicates that 0.7% of rich world GNI can provide enough resources to meet Millennium Development Goals, but developed countries must follow through on commitments and begin increasing ODA volumes today. If every developed country set and followed through on a timetable to reach 0.7% by 2015, the world could make dramatic progress in the fight against poverty and start on a path to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and end extreme poverty within a generation.

The UN Millennium Project's costing shows that a comprehensive package to meet the Millennium Development Goals would cost about $75-$150 US per person per year over the period, and that less than half of this would need to be financed by ODA.

To achieve the Goals, aid from industrialized countries should rise to 0.44 percent of the industrialized nations' GNP in 2006 and reach 0.54 percent of GNP by 2015- less than the global target 0.7 percent of GNP reaffirmed by world leaders at the Monterrey conference on financing development in 2002 ." (source: http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/press/07.htm)

Actor and activist Sean Penn personally committed to the reconstruction of Haiti pointing out that considerable efforts are still necessary as the people continue to suffer under the consequences of the earthquake. The country is still dependent on donations from abroad. "Many people are still homeless, there is not enough clean drinking water and the living conditions for children are beyond bad.” Foreign minister Laurent Lamothe appointed Penn “Ambassador of Large"- special envoy to Haiti, for his efforts in the Caribbean country.

 Another highlight of the evening was the auctioning of a guitar from U2 front-man Bono, which was purchased by Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice, who also gave a stunning musical performance. A particularly exciting moment came when Oprah Winfrey delivered a video message declaring that the generous talk show host would double the donations that had been collected that evening, pledging 2.5 million dollars.

 Further messages followed from Haiti's President Martelly, former President Bill Clinton and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton whose Chief of Staff and Haiti manager Cheryl Mills was awarded along with mobile entrepreneur Brad Horwitz and Canadian band Arcade Fire (Grammy Award for best album of the year 2011), who donated a percentage of ticket sales for the people of Haiti. Singer Win Butler and his wife Régine Chassagne, whose parents had fled Haiti while under rule of dictator Doc Chevalier, concluded the evening with an impromptu appearance, which included the singer performing atop the dinner tables.

Hollywood made a strong appearance with a list of stars in attendance including Leonardo DiCaprio, Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Mel Gibson, Hilary Swank, Salma Hayek with Francois-Henri Pinault, Orlando Bloom, Melanie Griffith, Demi Moore, Kim Kardashian, Jeremy Irons, Luc Besson, Josh Brolin und James Gandolfini, just to name a few.  The event was hosted by comedian and actor Bill Maher, who brought the audience to tears more than once – sometimes in laughter, and sometimes out of sympathy.

In his opening speech, founder Jaka Bizilj announced the establishment of Cinema for Peace USA. The annual Cinema for Peace Gala celebrates its anniversary on February the 13th, 2012 in Berlin with Honorary Guest Angelina Jolie.

 At the Gala event, Justitia Awards were given to Luis Moreno-Ocampo- the first Prosecutor of the ICC- Botswana’s President Ian Khama, Angelina Jolie, Benjamin Ferencz- a Chief Prosecutor of Nazi war crimes at Nuremburg - and other individuals and organizations who have played an important role in fulfilling the mission and goals of the International Criminal Court

 “The Justitia Award was established to honour those who promote international justice and assist victims of the gravest crimes to return to dignified lives within their communities,” said Angelina Jolie, recipient of the Justitia Award for Civic Support of the Year. “We are so grateful for all that you do…  In this world there is so much injustice and violence that we need you more than ever."

Presenting the awards were United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanthem Pillay, Holocaust survivor Irving Roth, former child soldier Ishmael Beah, Sudanese model Alek Wek, UN Under-Secretary for Legal Affairs Patricia O `Brien, and Deputy Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, a day prior to being appointed the new Chief Prosecutor of the international Criminal Court.

 "I am incredibly inspired by the international support and hard work that has enabled the International Criminal Court to emerge as a key global force for justice and human rights in less than 10 years," said Justitia Honorary Award winner Luis Moreno-Ocampo.  "I am proud to have been a part of this prestigious organization and to be amongst such great company in receiving the Justitia Award today."

The full list of this year’s Justitia Award recipients includes:

• Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the first Prosecutor of the ICC, received a Justitia Honorary Award for his dedication and determination in institutionalizing the Court;
• Christian Wenaweser, the current President of the Assembly of State Parties, received a Justitia Honorary Award for his leadership in the Court;
• Botswana President Ian Khama received the Justitia Statesman of the Year Award for his unwavering support of the ICC and his leadership in Africa;
• Angelina Jolie received the Justitia Award for Civic Support of the Year as a global citizen working for the plight of refugees and victims around the world, and for continuously supporting the Court;
• Benjamin Ferencz received the Justitia Lifetime Achievement Award for his pursuit of the rule of law, including his leadership role in the Nazi-war-crimes tribunal of Nuremberg, and for being the strongest advocate for an International Criminal Court for more than a half a century;
• The Invisible Children organization received the Justitia Award for the Civic Campaign of the Year for their determination in highlighting the abduction and forced enlistment of children as soldiers in Uganda by the Lord’s Resistance Army.  

2011 has been a breakthrough year for the ICC; it saw the conclusion of its first case, arrest warrants issued for key actors in Libya following the Arab spring, and in just the last two weeks the former President of the Ivory Coast was brought to The Hague and a further arrest warrant was requested against the Defense Minister of the Sudan. The Court began operations in 2003, and in less than 10 years has issued 25 arrest warrants including against three heads of states.

 "We started our work the same year as Facebook. In that time, Facebook has garnered 750 million members; we have 2.3 billion,” added Ocampo. “The International Criminal Court has been a huge success, we are growing faster than Facebook!"

 The Justice Gala also featured a special music performance by Emmanuel Jal, a former child soldier promoting, peace and justice through his music.  The event was preceded by a special screening of the 2009 documentary “The Reckoning: The Battle for the International Criminal Court” at Columbia University, hosted by Cinema for Peace Foundation and featuring an introduction by Luis Moreno-Ocampo.

The first Justitia Award was presented to the United Nations and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on May 30, 2010 for their immeasurable efforts in establishing and supporting the International Criminal Court.

We will present the Justitia Award to honour a person, a group of persons or an institution, which exemplary stands up for the promotion of international justice and particularly seeks to assist victims of the gravest crimes to return to dignified and contributory lives within their communities.

Ban Ki-moon and the UN received the first JUSTITIA Award at the Special Evening on Justice in Kampala in 2010. The Award was established in order to honour a person, a group of persons or an institution, which exemplary stands up for the promotion of international justice and particularly seeks to assist victims of the gravest crimes to return to dignified and contributory lives within their communities.

For more information on the Justice Gala click here.

The November edition of Cinema for Peace’s Monthly Screening will address the question of the violation of Human Rights in Burma. We are going to show the award winning documentary “BURMA VJ – REPORTING FROM A CLOSED COUNTRY” (2008) which portrays a group of young Burmese video journalists that set out to document the Saffron Revolution 2007

BERLIN: November 7th (Cinema CENTRAL) 
HAMBURG: November 14th (Cinema ABATON)

Going beyond the occasional news clip from Burma, the acclaimed filmmaker, Anders Østergaard, brings us close to the video journalists who deliver the footage. Though risking torture and life in jail, courageous young citizens of Burma live the essence of journalism as they insist on keeping up the flow of news from their closed country. Armed with small handycams the Burma VJs stop at nothing to make their reportages from the streets of Rangoon. Their material is smuggled out of the country and broadcast back into Burma via satellite and offered as free usage for international media. The whole world has witnessed single event clips made by the VJs, but for the very first time, their individual images have been carefully put together and at once, they tell a much bigger story. The film offers a unique insight into high-risk journalism and dissidence in a police state, while at the same time providing a thorough documentation of the historical and dramatic days of September 2007, when the Buddhist monks started marching.

In 2010 Cinema for Peace initiated the documentary film “This Prison Where I Live” by Rex Bloomstein and the comedian Michael Mittermeier.

The documentary follows Rex Bloomstein visiting and interviewing Zarganar in 2007 before his imprisonment and already depicts the oppressive atmosphere under the Burmese military junta. Two years later, Bloomstein and Michael Mittermeier travelled secretly to Burma to make a film about this courageous man, who describes himself as the "loudspeaker" for the Burmese people, and to investigate humour under dictatorship.

In 2011 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi sent out a video message on the occasion of the 10^th Cinema for Peace Gala. In her speech she says:

“In Burma artists are not free. Many of you have heard of our famous comedian Zarganar who is in prison for having engaged in humanitarian activities. This might seem very strange to many people. Why should anybody be penalized for engaging in humanitarian activities? […]We depend on artists, actors, producers, directors, people who are connected with the cinema to reach out to all the people to whom we are not in the position to reach out by making the world not only a bigger place but at the same time a closer community you will be able to help all those of us who have been deprived of their basic human rights.”

Following Aung San Suu Kyi’s request, Cinema for Peace started a petition to call for the release of Zarganar. More than 12.000 people have signed the petition and thus contributed to raise awareness on his case and on the injustice in Burma.

Though the news of the release of Zarganar and 6000 more political prisoners is a joyful and uplifting message one might still be critical. Thus, experts expect that there will only be 300 political prisoners among those who receive amnesty. Also Zarganar’s comment on his release includes a serious tone.

Zarganar said according to the Associated Press "I am not happy at all, as none of my 14 so-called political prisoner friends from Myitkyina Prison are among those freed today. I will be happy, and I will thank the government only when all of my friends are freed.”

Cinema for Peace will keep on its support and hope that Burma is going to continue on its path to democracy, allowing freedom of expression and freedom of creative arts.

To highlight the special occasion in Burma’s change of politics, we would like to recommend you to watch This Prison Where I Live (2009) by Rex Bloomstein and Michael Mittermeier.