Valencia joins Global Peace Film Festival 9/21

To celebrate the United Nations International Day of Peace, Valencia College is teaming up with the Orlando-based Global Peace Film Festival to present an award-winning documentary - and host a day of peace-related activities - on Sept. 21.

Valencia's Peace & Justice Initiative will present "The Day After Peace," directed by Jeremy Gilley. The film will be shown on Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. in Valencia's Performing Arts Center on East Campus, 701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail. Admission is free.

The film is the second from Gilley, a filmmaker and peace activist, and a follow-up to his first, "Peace One Day." Gilley's film inspired Kofi Annan, former U.N. Secretary General, to say: "You have proved that individuals can make a difference, and if each of us does our bit, collectively we will make a major contribution."

The screening will wrap up a day of activities, including:

• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - celebrations on the East Campus mall, including art projects for Valencia students, plus a giveaway of 150 free T-shirts

• 1 to 2 p.m. -- Robert Frye, an independent filmmaker and former executive producer of ABC's World News Tonight, will speak about his film, "In My Lifetime," a documentary about the history of the nuclear power and nuclear weapons industries - and the role of advocacy in film. He will speak in the atrium of Building 3 on the East Campus.

This is the first time Valencia has partnered with the Global Peace Film Festival, which will be held Sept. 20-25, 2011.

The GPFF presents films from around the world and discussions that highlight the power of film as it relates to peace issues. Members of the public can attend educational panels, meet filmmakers and special guests and hear from local activists about their work.

Since 2003, the GPFF has shown over 300 films from around the world. The critically acclaimed programming has included the Academy Award-winning documentary "Taxi to the Darkside," and Academy Award- nominated films "War/Dance," "Recycled Life," and "Binta and the Great Idea."