Global Peace Film Festival adds International Drive weekend in Orlando

The Global Peace Film Festival returns Sept. 15–27 in Central Florida with documentaries, filmmaker events and community programming, plus a new Global Peace 360° weekend on International Drive. The expansion aims to reach both local audiences and tourists with film, arts, fashion and civic engagement programming.

Why it matters: - The festival is expanding beyond its traditional footprint to Orlando’s tourism corridor, giving its peace-focused programming exposure to residents and visitors from around the world. - The new International Drive experience blends film, arts, fashion and community engagement, which broadens the festival’s reach and audience mix. - The 2026 lineup includes community programs tied to social, cultural, environmental and human rights issues, keeping the festival centered on dialogue and civic engagement.

What happened: - The award-winning Global Peace Film Festival returns Sept. 15–27, 2026, in Central Florida. - The festival is in its 24th season. - Global Peace 360° on International Drive runs Sept. 26–27 at AFRO TV Studios. - The weekend event will feature documentary screenings, special events, interactive exhibits and a model casting. - The model casting is presented with Orlando International Fashion Week, a Fierce Entertainment initiative. - The festival’s core in-person programming runs Sept. 15–19 at Enzian Theater, Rollins College’s Bush Auditorium, Winter Park Library and Regal Winter Park Village. - Free for All Shorts Online runs Sept. 21–27 with free access to a curated collection of short films worldwide.

The details: - Opening night at Enzian Theater will feature A Break in the Rain, followed by a conversation with Michael O’Keefe and Elizabeth A. Davis. - Guest filmmaker Marshall Curry will present The New Yorker at 100, Street Fight and A Night at the Garden. - The festival will include a 10-year Pulse remembrance screening of Surviving Pulse: Life After a Mass Shooting. - FusionFest’s MyGration film series is part of the programming and highlights Central Florida’s diverse cultural stories. - The schedule also includes filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions, community conversations and the annual Global Peace Film Festival Awards Ceremony. - The GP360 Student Peace Art Exhibit will be on display Sept. 16 through Oct. 20 at the Orange County Multicultural Center in partnership with Orange County Public Schools. - Festival passes, tickets, schedules and additional information are available at GlobalPeace360.org.

Between the lines: - The International Drive move places the festival in one of Orlando’s most visible visitor districts, which could help the organization reach new audiences without abandoning its core venues. - The mix of documentary film, fashion and interactive events suggests the festival is positioning itself as a broader cultural platform, not just a film series. - The Pulse remembrance screening and student art exhibit show the festival is leaning on both remembrance and education to deepen community ties.

What's next: - Audiences can attend the core festival Sept. 15–19, stream the free shorts program Sept. 21–27, or visit Global Peace 360° on International Drive Sept. 26–27. - The festival will continue its year-round Global Peace 360° programming after the September event run. - Organizers will use the new International Drive experience to test how well the festival’s mission translates to a tourism-heavy setting.

The bottom line: - Global Peace Film Festival is using its 24th season to widen its reach, pair film with cultural programming and bring its peace-centered mission to one of Orlando’s highest-traffic districts.