ORLANDO — The Global Peace Film Festival returns to Central Florida from Sept. 15 through Sept. 27, using documentaries, narrative films and public conversations to explore how stories can move audiences from attention to action.
Now in its 24th season, the Orlando-based festival has built its identity around social-impact filmmaking rather than red-carpet spectacle. Its 2026 program centers on humanity, resilience, justice, culture and hope, with filmmakers and community partners expected to join discussions connected to selected screenings.
The schedule spreads the festival beyond a single theater. That approach allows different parts of the region to host films in settings that fit the conversation, while giving moviegoers more than one way to participate.
A wider footprint in Orlando
A notable addition this year is Global Peace 360° on I-Drive, a two-day program Sept. 26 and 27 at AFRO TV Studios, 7220 International Drive. The multi-stage production facility will host feature films, documentaries, shorts and animation, along with filmmaker question-and-answer sessions and special appearances.
Organizers also plan recorded filmmaker interviews and opportunities for audiences to meet emerging and established storytellers. A live casting call tied to Orlando International Fashion Week is part of the International Drive weekend, widening the program beyond traditional screenings.
The I-Drive expansion gives the festival a foothold in the heart of Orlando’s visitor district while highlighting locally connected talent and globally focused work. Organizers say partnerships with colleges, educators and community organizations are intended to draw a younger and more diverse audience.
Films as a starting point
The festival’s larger purpose is visible in the way it pairs movies with discussion. Rather than treating the closing credits as the end of the experience, the program asks audiences to consider what a film reveals about another community and what response might follow.
That model is especially suited to documentary work, where the people and issues on screen often continue to evolve after production ends. Conversations with filmmakers, advocates and viewers can add local context without requiring every attendee to arrive as an expert.
The organization also runs year-round programs in Central Florida. Its Kaleidoscope outdoor series presents free classic films at Luminary Green Park, while Storytime Cinema at Orlando Science Center uses family movies to encourage curiosity and confidence among children. An Indie Lens Pop-Up series pairs free documentary screenings with facilitated civic discussion.
Those projects help explain why the annual festival feels less like an isolated event and more like the centerpiece of an ongoing cultural program.
The result is an entertainment event with a civic purpose but without a single prescribed viewpoint. A well-built festival program can place sharply different experiences beside one another, giving audiences room to compare, question and continue the conversation after they leave the theater. That exchange is central to the festival’s idea of film as a public forum.
Tickets, passes, film descriptions and individual showtimes are available through the festival’s official online program. Because venues and admission rules vary by screening, attendees should confirm the location and ticket requirements for each selection before heading out.
The Global Peace Film Festival is supported in part by Orange County Government’s Arts & Cultural Affairs Program and United Arts of Central Florida.
Fact-check sources
- Global Peace Film Festival — 2026 festival overview: https://peacefilmfest.org/movie/global-peace-film-festival/
- Global Peace 360° — International Drive program: https://peacefilmfest.org/movie/global-peace-360-on-i-drive/
Editorial note: This article is original reporting-style copy based on public facts. Verify schedules, ticket availability and access requirements immediately before publication because event details can change.
