Cinema for Peace New York Honors Sting and Trudie Styler for Environmental Work Today, 9/25

Since 2002 Cinema for Peace has been a worldwide initiative, promoting humanity through film while inviting Members of The international film community to attend the annual Cinema for Peace Award-Gala-Night during the Berlin International Film Festival. Showcasing cinematic work which highlights the human condition and human values, we have created a platform for peace and tolerance. During the evening's proceedings at the Konzerthaus, while film clip from exemplary works are screened, directors and producers are celebrated with the Cinema for Peace Award for commendable works.

Cinema for Peace brings together international star guests and global personalities from the world of film, media, politics, business and society, while celebrating the power of the moving image and its ability to unite cultures. This prestigious event is a symbol of peace, freedom and tolerance, a symbol with a lasting effect on the world of film and media, initiating important projects and the free exchange of ideas. Cinema for Peace itself distributes, well as produces, valuable movies with inspiring messages.

The aim of Cinema for Peace is to promote peace and international understanding through the medium of film. Since its foundation in 2002 Cinema for Peace has invited Members of The international film community to a gala night which highlights a selection of cinematic work in order to create a platform for peace and tolerance, while also raising significant funds for charity. During the course of the gala, an award is presented to a director whose work has served to cast a new focus on the human condition and human values, and excerpts are screened from movies that make a difference. The influence of the Cinema for Peace Gala extends far beyond the events of just one night.

War, terrorism and humanitarian catastrophes are sad realities in many parts of the world. But artists can make a difference to the state of the world, and film and filmmakers should, perhaps more than any other art form, make a stand for peace and humanity. www.cinemaforpeace.com

"The InternationAl Green Film Award" pays tribute to an extraordinarily inspiring achievement of a film artist in the domains of environment and climate protection. This particular achievement may go far beyond the world of film, thus motivation the pubic to develop their own commitments to protect natural resources based on the general understanding of the interconnectedness of all life on earth. Patron and spiritual father of this award is President Mikhail Gorbachev.

In 2009 the first "InternationAl Green Film Award" was presented to Leonardo DiCaprio for his long-lasting dedication to green issues, as well as for his film "The 11th Hour". Since then, "The InternationAl Green Film Award" presented at our annual gala has gone on to award Members of The film community for outstanding achievements in and dedication to raising awareness for green issues.

The past laureates of the Cinema for Peace InternationAl Green Film Award:
2012: "Burning in the Sun" and Dr. Richard Komp
2011: "Jane's Journey" and Jane Goodall
2010: "Crude" and Joe Berlinger

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is responsible for formulating the principles and strategies of German development policy. These then form the basis of the cooperation projects and programmes developed together with our cooperation countries and with international organisations. The Ministry plays an active role in international negotiations and in cooperation countries. Within Germany, the BMZ supports the general public, non-governmental organisations, churches, foundations and businesses in their efforts in the development field.

The Rainforest Fund is a charitable foundation that fulfills its mission to protect and support indigenous peoples, and traditional populations of the rainforest in their efforts to protect their environment and fulfill their rights. The Rainforest Fund is convinced that accepted environmental and human rights principles embody the right of everyone to a secure, healthy and ecologically sound environment, and that environmental degradation leads to human rights violations such as the right to life, health and culture. Bearing in mind the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights, the Fund carries out its mission by funding programs and projects aimed at supporting indigenous peoples and traditional populations of the rainforest to assert and defend their rights, to promote a sustainable development of their communities, and to challenge government practices which have a damaging effect on their environment. For more, visit www.rainforestfund.org.

About the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation: Dedicated to People, Animals and the Planet. Established in 1998 by Leonardo and his family, the Foundation supports efforts to secure a sustainable future for our planet and all of its inhabitants. The Foundation works on a variety of environmental and humanitarian issues including Wildlife Protection, Forest Preservation, Healthy Oceans, Water Access, Renewable Energy, Disaster Relief and Climate Change. LDF works towards this goal by: providing grants to select organizations and projects in the field; building partnerships with select organizations; spearheading creative campaigns and media pieces that shift the way issues are communicated to the public; utilizing social media for the causes we care about; and forming alliances with other influencers to effect change. For more information, go to www.leonardodicaprio.com.