World Forum

The World Forum on the Future of Democracy, Tech and Humankind

Opens with Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Sharon Stone, Sir Bob Geldof, Nobel Peace Laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk, Pussy Riot Founder Nadia Tolokonnikova, The World Forum Founder Jaka Bizilj, Nick Bostic the ordinary hero, and Heads of State

“We must find the courage within ourselves to preserve the planet, protect human dignity, and provide opportunity for people everywhere. This road will be long, but with artists and filmmakers helping to light the way, I know we will get there together.”

The President of the United States of America Joe Biden

President Biden Congratulates Secretary Clinton and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Receiving the Cinema for Peace Award

At the World Forum on the Future of Democracy, Tech and Humankind on 18 & 19 February 2024, organized by Cinema for Peace in Berlin, Sharon Stone quoted a message from a letter by President Joe Biden to Cinema for Peace. In his letter, President Biden extended heartfelt congratulations to Secretary Hillary Clinton and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for receiving the prestigious Cinema for Peace Award. He praised the award as a testament to their lifelong commitment to promoting democracy and peace globally. President Biden also emphasized the significant role of cinema in reflecting our humanity and advancing societal change. He commended the Cinema for Peace Foundation for its work in highlighting films that address critical global challenges, reinforcing the power of the arts in fostering a more just and peaceful world.

Inaugural speech by 8th UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at The World Forum

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Calls for Global Solidarity in the Defense of Human Rights and Democracy

In a powerful address at the World Forum on the Future of Democracy, Tech, and Humankind on 18 & 19 Feb 2024, 8th UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon articulated the fundamental interconnections among peace, security, economic development, and human rights, as outlined in the United Nations Charter.

The World Forum concluded by Secretary Hillary Clinton in conversation with Ann Curry

Secretary Hillary Clinton Discusses Global Challenges and U.S. Politics at The World Forum

Berlin— In a comprehensive conversation with Ann Curry at The World Forum on the Future of Democracy, Tech, and Humankind on 18 &19 Feb 2024, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton shared her insights on a range of pressing global and domestic issues, reflecting on the state of international politics and the critical challenges facing democracies today. She articulated the pressing global struggle between democratic values and autocratic forces, characterized as a battle between "darkness and light."

World's Leading Philosopher
Yuval Noah Harari Contributes to The World Forum

Historian, Philosopher and Bestselling Author Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari
Addresses The World Forum

​​How Technology Can Help Humans Flourish

In his powerful address to The World Forum, Professor Yuval Noah Harari examines the critical intersection of technology and politics, urging us to harness technological advancements to strengthen democracy and human agency. He challenges us to redefine our roles from passive observers to active creators in shaping a politically empowered future. Watch his compelling speech to explore how innovative technologies can be pivotal in advancing freedom and enhancing governance globally.

Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown addresses The World Forum

Gordon Brown Calls for Action Against Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan at The World Forum

Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown delivered a powerful speech at The World Forum on the Future of Democracy, Tech and Humankind, highlighting the severe violations of girl’s and women’s rights in Afghanistan. Describing it as "one of the greatest injustices of our times," Mr. Brown detailed the systematic gender persecution enacted by the Taliban regime since their return to power in August 2021.

Sir Bob Geldof addresses The World Forum

Sir Bob Geldof Calls for Action at The World Forum, Criticizes Standard Conference Inefficacies

In a stirring address at The World Forum, Sir Bob Geldof, founder of Live Aid, voiced a powerful critique of conventional conferences and underscored the urgency of actionable commitments over mere discussions. He expressed his weariness with the typical cycle of speeches and rhetoric, which he believes fail to incite real change. "I am tired of speeches. I am tired of listening. I'm tired of rhetoric," Mr. Geldof stated, challenging the audience to move beyond passive expressions of concern.

Inaugural speech by Oleksandra Matviichuk at The World Forum

Ukrainian Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk Calls for Special Tribunal at The World Forum

In a powerful inaugural speech at the World Forum, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and human rights lawyer Oleksandra Matviichuk addressed the dire consequences of the conflict initiated by Russia against Ukraine in February 2014. Matviichuk, who has been documenting the atrocities of the war, highlighted the immense suffering of the victims, emphasising their need to restore not just their lives and families, but also their faith in justice.

Inaugural speech by Nadya Tolokonnikova at The World Forum

Nadya Tolokonnikova Commemorates Alexey Navalny at The World Forum

In a poignant speech at The World Forum on the Future of Democracy, Tech, and Humankind, held on February 18 and 19, 2024, Nadya Tolokonnikova of Pussy Riot led a commemoration for Alexey Navalny, the late Russian opposition leader. She recounted how she initiated his evacuation in 2020 after he was poisoned, by requesting that Jaka Bizilj, Chairman of Cinema for Peace, arrange his transfer from Siberia to Berlin for medical treatment.

From top left to right: Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, corporate security executive and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, Lilia Chanysheva, former coordinator of regional offices of the late opposition figure Alexei Navalny,  former head of Open Russia movement Andrei Pivovarov, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gerskhovich, co-chair of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Memorial Human Rights Centre Oleg Orlov, government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Tatar-Bashkir service Alsu Kurmasheva, Russian opposition activist and former municipal deputy of the Krasnoselsky district Ilya Yashin,  artist and musician Sasha Skochilenko.

Special Mission Accomplished to Save Lives of Dissidents in Russian Prison

Fearing for the lives of Vladimir Kara-Murza and others wrongfully kept in prison in Russia and Belarus – especially after the death of Alexei Navalny – Cinema for Peace founder Jaka Bizilj initiated a prisoners' exchange of Kara-Murza, Evan Gershkovic, Paul Whelan and others by sending former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder‘s confidant Detlef Prinz to the German chancellory, to Moscow and to Istanbul in order to strike a deal, after all official negotiations had failed for more than a year. While bureaucrats endangered the objectives of this mission again, which involved several governments, courageous heads of state like German Chancellor Olaf Scholz with Minister of Justice Dr. Marco Buschmann, and particularly President Recep Tayyip Erdogan proved effective. Two weeks later US President Joe Biden and Chancellor Scholz announced the exchange of prisoners. We thank Detlef Prinz for masterfully executing a ‘‘mission impossible“ for Cinema for Peace and The World Forum in a rare and small window of opportunity.

The World Forum was Held by the Cinema for Peace Foundation and its Partners

For the past two decades, the Cinema for Peace Foundation has hosted over one billion participants, initiated more than 20 films, and raised more than $10 million for humanitarian efforts. The Cinema for Peace has collaborated with over a hundred of Academy Award winning artists; more than 30 heads of state; ministers and elected officials; and iconic human rights activists including Nelson Mandela, The Dalai Lama, Muhammad Ali, and Mikhail Gorbachev. 

The Cinema for Peace Foundation also contributed to protecting the lives and freedoms of dissidents such as Alexei Navalny, Ai Weiwei, and Pussy Riot. The foundation’s dedication to upholding human rights triggered the liberation of Burmese comedian Zarganar after the release of the documentary film, The Prison Where I Live. Films such as this have inspired open and solution-focused dialogue at The World Forum to address some of the world’s most pressing problems.

Leonardo DiCaprio & Mikhail Gorbachev introducing the International Green Award at the Cinema for Peace Gala.

The ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo at the Justice Gala by Cinema for Peace in New York.

Nicole Kidman as UN Women Goodwill Ambassador with ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda at Cinema for Peace.

UN SG Ban Ki-moon receiving the Justitia Award on behalf of the UN by Cinema for Peace in Kampala.

Cinema For Peace Gala 2024
Honours Pope Francis, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, UN SG Ban Ki-moon, Helen Mirren, and the World's Most Influential Filmmakers with Sharon Stone, Pussy Riot, Sir Bob Geldof, Ann Curry, Ukrainian Nobel Peace Laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk, and 102-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Margot Friedländer

Foreign Minister of Germany Annalena Baerbock and Sharon Stone present The Cinema for Peace Honorary Award to Secretary Hillary Clinton

Speakers at The World Forum

  • Ban Ki-moon

    The 8th Secretary-General of the
    United Nations

  • Hillary Rodham Clinton

    First Lady & U.S. Secretary of State
    (2009 - 2013)

  • Gordon Brown

    Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2007-2010)

  • Sharon Stone

    Actress, Artist, Activist

  • Sir Bob Geldof

    Irish singer, Writer and Political Activist

  • Oleksandra Matviichuk

    Human rights lawyer
    Nobel Peace Prize Laureate (2022)

  • José Ramos-Horta

    President of Timor-Leste
    Nobel Peace Prize Laureate (1996)

  • Moncef Marzouki

    President of Tunisia
    (2011 - 2014)

  • Salome Zourabichvili

    President of Georgia

  • Natalia Gavrilita

    Prime minister of Moldova
    (2021 - 2023)

  • Raila Odinga

    Prime Minister of Kenya
    (2008-2013)

  • Gjorge Ivanov

    President of Macedonia
    (2009 - 2019)

  • Eamon Ryan

    Irish Minister for Transport, Environment, Climate and Communications

  • Hans Corell

    United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and the Legal Counsel (1994 - 2004)

  • Stuart Jonathan Russell

    Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley

  • Jan Eliasson

    Foreign Minister of Sweden
    (2006 -2006)

  • Joseph Yossi Beilin

    Justice Minister of Israel
    (1999-2001)

  • Tom Malinowski

    U.S. House of Representatives
    (2019 - 2023)

  • Eva-Maria Liimets

    Foreign Minister of Estonia
    (2021-2022)

  • Ann Curry

    Humanitarian Correspondent

  • Dr. John Barker

    Founding Director of Cambridge Governance Labs at Cambridge University

  • Nadya Tolokonnikova

    Russian musician, political activist & founding member of the Pussy Riot

  • Ivan Simonović

    UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights (2010–2016) & Minister of Justice of Croatia
    (2008 -2010)

  • Prof. Hans Kochler

    Philosophy professor & the Founder and President of the International Progress Organization ( I.P.O.)

  • Melissa Parke

    Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons & Member of the Australian House of Representatives (2007 - 2016)

  • Ulrike Guérot

    Political Scientist, Founder and Director of the European Democracy Lab

  • James Bacchus

    American Lawyer
    Member of U.S. House of Representatives (1991-1995)

  • Henning Otte

    Member of the German Parliament Deputy Chairman of the Defense Committee

Panel Discussions

The World Forum on the Future of Democracy, Tech, and Humankind
18 & 19 February 2024 - Berlin

The World Forum 2024 hosted a total of 30 panel discussions on the Future of Democracy, Tech, and Humankind, categorised into six segments. The Forum served as a platform to renew democracy and define the future of humanity. To encourage real change, some panels were followed by a lawmaking workshop aimed at developing blueprint legislation for governments around the world.

To learn more about each segment, please click the links below:

  1. Renew Democracy

  2. Peace, War & International Security

  3. Justice, Human Rights, and Rights of the Future Generations

  4. Economy, Jobs and Social Security

  5. Tech

  6. The Future of Humankind

Pope Francis, Hillary Clinton & Ban Ki-Moon To Be Feted At Berlin Cinema For Peace Gala Alongside Works Protecting Jewish Life

The World Forum in the News

In 2014, Le Matin reports on the World Forum. Cinema for Peace honors Mikhail Gorbachev in Berlin

Groundbreaking Forum in Berlin: Shaping the Future of Democracy, Tech, and Humanity

Cinema for Peace honored personalities and opened the first World Forum on the future of Democracy, Tech and Humankind