2023 Award Winners
Five thematic awards recognizing excellence in peace-focused cinema
Best Human Rights Film Award
Winner: All Quiet on the Western Front
Directed by: Edward Berger
Country: Germany
A young German soldier's terrifying experiences and distress on the western front during World War I. This powerful anti-war masterpiece exposes the brutal reality of armed conflict and its devastating impact on human rights and dignity, serving as a timeless reminder of war's senseless destruction of lives.
Best Democracy & Freedom Film Award
Winner: 20 Days in Mariupol
Directed by: Mstyslav Chernov
Country: Ukraine
As the Russian invasion begins, a team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol struggles to continue their work documenting the war's atrocities. This harrowing documentary exemplifies the crucial role of free press and courageous journalism in defending democratic values and truth in the face of authoritarianism.
Best Peace Film Award
Winner: Close
Directed by: Lukas Dhont
Country: Belgium
The intense friendship between two thirteen-year old boys Leo and Remi suddenly gets disrupted. Struggling to understand what has happened, Léo approaches Sophie, Rémi's mother. A deeply moving film about friendship, responsibility, and the fragility of human connections, exploring how understanding and compassion are essential to healing and peace.
Best Women & Gender Equality Film Award
Winner: In Her Hands
Directed by: Tamana Ayazi, Marcel Mettelsiefen
Country: Afghanistan, Germany
At 26, Zarifa Ghafari became one of Afghanistan's first female mayors and the youngest to ever hold the position. Filmed over two turbulent years, the film documents her personal battle for survival as her country unravels. An extraordinary testament to women's courage and leadership in the fight for equality and justice.
Best Social Justice Film Award
Winner: Argentina, 1985
Directed by: Santiago Mitre
Country: Argentina
A political thriller about the investigation and prosecution of the military dictatorship in Argentina led by prosecutors Julio Strassera and Luis Moreno Ocampo. This powerful film demonstrates the essential role of legal accountability and justice in healing societies torn apart by state violence and human rights abuses.
2023 Los Angeles Awards Ceremony
The 2023 awards ceremony took place in Los Angeles, California, on October 28, 2023. The ceremony brought together filmmakers, industry professionals, and peace advocates from around the world in celebration of excellence in peace cinema.
The ceremony honored five outstanding films across thematic categories that reflect our mission: promoting human rights, democracy, peace, gender equality, and social justice through the power of cinema.
Awards Summary
The 2023 Los Angeles World Peace Film Awards recognized 5 outstanding films across five thematic categories, celebrating cinema's power to promote peace, justice, and human understanding. These winners represent the best of contemporary filmmaking's commitment to positive social change and represent diverse voices from Germany, Ukraine, Belgium, Afghanistan, and Argentina.