Oscar Winners Call for Peace and Warn of Atomic Bombs

Click to watch the trailer of "Oppenheimer" by Christopher Nolan.

LOS ANGELES, March 10th – Christopher Nolan's film "Oppenheimer" emerged as the dominant force at the Oscars, securing seven wins. 

When accepting his award for Best Actor for his role in "Oppenheimer," Cillian Murphy delivered a profound message: "We made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb, and for better or worse, we’re all living in Oppenheimer’s world. So I would really like to dedicate this to the peacemakers everywhere."

Matthew Modine, a member of the Oppenheimer cast, stated, "It is imperative that every individual gains knowledge about the immense destructive potential of nuclear weapons. Understanding this threat paves the way for their eventual elimination." The importance of this subject was recognized by the Cinema for Peace Foundation by nominating “Oppenheimer” for The Cinema for Peace Dove for The Most Valuable Film of the Year 2024. 
 
The Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature was given to “20 Days in Mariupol” directed by Mstyslav Chernov, a film that also received The Cinema for Peace Dove for The Most Valuable Documentary of the Year in 2023.

The director stated: “Probably I will be the first director on this stage, who will say, I wish I’d never made this film. I wish to be able to exchange this to Russia never attacking Ukraine, never occupying our cities. This is the first Oscar in Ukrainian history. I wish to give all the recognition to Russians not killing tens of thousands of my fellow Ukrainians, I wish for them to release all the hostages, all the soldiers who are protecting their lands, and all the civilians who are now in their jails. Cinema forms memories and memories form history.”

The In Memoriam segment commenced uniquely with a tribute to Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, featuring a clip from the Oscar-winning documentary "Navalny," honouring his legacy and activism. The academy displayed a quote by Navalny: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing."
 
The nominees included the film “Bobi Wine: The People's President”, which was honoured with The Cinema for Peace Dove for The Political Film of the Year 2024, recognizing Bobi Wine’s efforts to expose corruption and challenge electoral fraud in Uganda. Due to threats from the government, Wine, along with other democracy defenders of the past like Ai Weiwei, Pussy Riot, and Joshua Wong, has been placed under the protection of the Cinema for Peace Foundation’s network. 
 
Director Jonathan Glazer delivered a poignant acceptance speech addressing the conflict in Gaza and rejecting the exploitation of his Jewish heritage to current events. His film's exploration of dehumanization resonated with audiences, highlighting the importance of confronting contemporary issues and promoting empathy and understanding. "The Zone of Interest" received further recognition at the Cinema for Peace Gala, underscoring its powerful message of humanity and solidarity.