"This film should be seen by every American ."
- Michael Moore
Author & Director ("Bowling for Columbine")

"Young, cool, and edgy--you go, PeaceJam!"
- Andrei Codrescu
Author & National Public Radio commentator 

"Gives us all the opportunity to reflect on the truth of hope."
- Rigoberta Menchú Tum
1992 Nobel Peace Laureate

PeaceJam follows five teens over a six year period as they face the stark realities of growing up in the USA today, and as they work side-by-side with leading Nobel Peace Prize Laureates - including the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, and President Oscar Arias - and learn how to become leaders in their own communities. Their stories are often funny, sometimes tragic, and always edgy and real. From the full-fledged gang member, to the homeless child with an alcoholic mother, to the twins born of an interracial marriage, to the high school shooting victim, their dramatic life stories will both move and shock you. Taken from over 500 hours of filmed interviews and work in the field, this documentary records their transformation into young people of purpose and conviction. It also captures the moments that changed their lives forever - the murder of gay student Matthew Shepard, an attempted suicide, the carnage at Columbine High School, the death of a father who overdosed on drugs. PeaceJam contains never-before-seen footage of eleven leading Nobel Peace Prize Laureates working with youth in the USA, South Africa, India, Guatemala, and Costa Rica, and rare footage from inside Columbine High School both during and after the shootings. The film also features an all-original score created specifically for this documentary, including three original songs written by Columbine survivor Richard Castaldo.

PeaceJam was completed in November of 2002.

The PeaceJam program - on which PeaceJam, the movie, is based - is an international education program built around leading Nobel Peace Prize Laureates who work personally with youth to pass on the spirit, skills, and wisdom they embody. The goal of PeaceJam is to create a new generation of peacemakers who will transform their local communities, themselves, and the world. Since the program was launched in March of 1996, almost 40,000 teenagers worldwide have had the opportunity to participate.

Artistic and Technical Credits

Cast: Richard Castaldo was featured in the Michael Moore documentary film, "Bowling for Columbine". The rest of the cast (Rudy Balles, Jes Ward, Shannon Myers, and Shelby Myers) have not appeared in any prior films.

Starring: Rudy Balles, Jes Ward, Richard Castaldo, Shannon Myers, Shelby Myers

Featuring: The Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Jody Williams, Dr. Oscar Arias, Aung San Suu Kyi, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Jose Ramos-Horta, Bishop Carlos Belo, and Betty Williams

Directors: Dennis Flippin and Dawn Gifford Engle

Executive Producers: Ivan Suvanjieff, Paul Zimmerman, Dawn Gifford Engle

Edited by: Dennis Flippin and Don Poe

Written by: Dawn Gifford Engle

Director of Photography: Ivan Suvanjieff

Original Film Score by: Ivan Suvanjieff

Music Mixed & Arranged by: Justin Liston

Music: Zebra Junction, Richard Castaldo, Justin Liston, Kevin Crouse, Nawang Khechog

Photography by: Ivan Suvanjieff, Dennis Flippin, Michael Lennon, Brett Engle, Mike Engle, Michael Raisch, Robert Raisch, William Theo, Guy Lieberman.

Research: Dawn Gifford Engle, Jes Ward, Savannah Powell, Toni Kattelman