India Post News Service

CHICAGO: The first annual film festival dedicated to peace and non-violence, premiere's Labor Day Weekend at the new Victory Garden's Biography Theatre on Friday, August 29 to Sunday, August 31.Peace On Earth Film Festival (POEFF), is presented by a non- denominational conscious awareness group, New Thought Chicago, and its focus is to present realistic alternatives, setting the tone for a culture of peace through possibilities for change. Its Executive Director is retired film actor and television star, Nick Angotti.

He is also the Producer and Host of CAN-TV's Say Yes to Life and the Spiritual Leader at New Thought Chicago.The art of film making can promote peace and non-violence to citizens around the world. POEFF encourages filmmakers, videographers and animators to build peace by telling the stories of people who have opened themselves up to new ideas, made a change, and have positively impacted society.

Documentaries on environmental issues, Chicago students addressing guns and gang violence, films on woman's rights in Iraq, a new direction for post civil war Rwanda and a broad sweeping inter-denominational cooperative to supply drinking water to remote villages in Indonesia are some examples of the films in the festival.POEFF is one of the first of its kind to provide a place where people will be inspired and moved through the art of film. POEFF is NOT a festival that boasts any religious beliefs.

"Our intention is to offer people a different perspective and take them to a new level of understanding of what peace is and what it is not," comments Festival co -Director, Clayton Monical, an award-winning filmmaker.