Impact DOCS Awards - winners listing
The Impact DOCS Awards list The Hardest Bridge among their winners.
"Imad Karam (United Kingdom), The Hardest Bridge, Documentary Feature" - Impact DOCS Awards winners gallery
Press
Press coverage
The Hardest Bridge documentary
Announcement of the Frome Town Hall screening with the "Let's Talk" group and a Q&A with Jo Berry and Imad Karam.
"I am thrilled to be bringing this unique documentary to Let's Talk group as it aligns with our values and mission." - Jo Berry, via Frome Town Council
Jo Berry honored for a lifetime of peacebuilding
On Jo Berry's CBE - and on the new documentary in which she features, including the Newbury pre-release screening.
"The film has already sparked new initiatives." - Initiatives of Change
The Hardest Bridge - 30th May 2025 screening
The organiser's report on the Brighton Fringe screening and the Q&A with Imad Karam, facilitated by Prof Scherto Gill.
"It captures the process of developing the least likely friendship between Jo Berry and Patrick Magee." - GHFP Institute
The hardest bridge: forgiving the Brighton Bomber
Preview of the Brighton Fringe avant-premiere at the Friends Meeting House, hosted by the Global Humanity for Peace Institute.
"What does it mean to forgive? And what can we learn from those who have?" - Sussex Express
The Hardest Bridge documentary about reconciliation
Report on the premiere screening in Newbury, presented by the Mayor of Newbury, with director Imad Karam and Jo Berry answering questions from the audience.
"Imad still has faith that peace is possible and has created a film which is so relevant for the present day world we live in." - Howard Grace, executive producer, in Penny Post
Fellowship weekend with Letlapa Mphahlele
Screenings and discussions with Letlapa Mphahlele in Indonesia with interfaith partners - the most recent coverage of the film.
"Just because they humiliate you, doesn't mean you have to do the same thing." - Letlapa Mphahlele, quoted by Initiatives of Change Indonesia
Ginn Fourie and Letlapa Mphahlele - stories library
Parallel first-person testimonies of both protagonists, who feature in the documentary.
"Forgiveness as a process which involves the principled decision to give up your justifiable right to revenge." - Ginn Fourie, The Forgiveness Project
Sedona Film Festival presents The Man Who Built Peace
Preview of two screenings at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre, Sedona, in June 2019, noting Buchman's link to the origins of Alcoholics Anonymous.
"Finally, a film that does justice to the deep spirituality, the psychological complexity and historical importance of Frank Buchman." - William Schaberg, quoted in Kudos AZ
Film screening The Man Who Built Peace and interfaith talk
Screening and interfaith panel at Tanri Abeng University, Jakarta.
"Religions lead us to God, not create wars and conflicts." - Binsar Pakpahan, quoted by Initiatives of Change Indonesia
The Man Who Built Peace: The Frank Buchman Story
Feature on Buchman's legacy and the making of the film - shot in the UK, Europe, South America, the USA, India, Japan and South Korea - ahead of the London premiere and an eight-city UK tour.
"Films can indeed act as a catalyst for peace and reconciliation by showing inspiring real-life stories." - Imad Karam, quoted in Peace Insight
The Man Who Built Peace - UK launch
RSA Fellowship news invites Fellows to the London premiere at the Royal Geographical Society.
"This celebrated and award-winning film features powerful stories of reconciliation, apology, and forgiveness." - RSA Fellowship news
The role of forgiveness in creating peace
Screening for the UN International Day of Peace 2015 with JCI London, followed by a panel of peacebuilders.
"We are all wounded healers." - Angharad Thain, agreeing with Ginn Fourie, quoted by Initiatives of Change
Could you forgive?
Round-up of the whole UK tour - South Africa House, East London, Oxford, Bradford, Liverpool, Durham Cathedral and Belfast - and how audiences responded.
"Forgiveness is not a destination but a journey." - Ginn Fourie and Letlapa Mphahlele, as summarised by Initiatives of Change
Beyond Forgiving in London: a journey of forgiveness
Report on the screening at the Royal Geographical Society before a 400-strong audience, chaired by Terry Waite CBE and introduced by Imad Karam.
"Towards the end of the screening of this moving film, the closing credits rolled to sustained applause." - Jini Reddy, Initiatives of Change
Beyond Forgiving: a story from South Africa with lessons for the world
The screening hosted by the South African High Commission in London, with High Commissioner Obed Mlaba responding to the film. (Archived copy.)
"A very good story to tell and to be told forever and ever by South Africans." - High Commissioner Obed Mlaba, quoted by Initiatives of Change UK
Bradford's Peace Studies students go beyond forgiving
Screening and Q&A at the University of Bradford's Department of Peace Studies with both protagonists.
"Governments cannot legislate for forgiveness; only individuals can forgive." - Letlapa Mphahlele, quoted by Michael Smith
Beyond Forgiving: two South Africans share their story of healing
Marina Cantacuzino, founder of The Forgiveness Project, introduces the film and the May 2014 UK tour.
"Storytelling is part of the healing process, you release and share something verbally." - Letlapa Mphahlele, quoted in HuffPost
Best Shorts Competition - winners July 2013
Award of Merit listing for the film.
"FLTfilms (United Kingdom), Beyond Forgiving, short documentary" - Best Shorts Competition winners list
Interview
Letlapa Mphahlele on prejudice, apartheid and the burden of being forgiven
Podcast episode that opens with clips from the film; Letlapa Mphahlele talks about the 1993 attack and meeting Ginn Fourie.
"Forgiveness goes straight to the heart, the heart of the forgiven and it was hugely liberating." - Letlapa Mphahlele, The F Word podcast
Más allá del perdón: una conversación con Imad Karam
Long interview (in Spanish) with Imad Karam on documentary film as a tool for forgiveness and reconciliation, drawing on South Africa, Palestine and Colombia.
"Beyond Forgiving demuestra que mientras el perdón y la reconciliación son posibles, se requiere cierto grado de empatía y humanización." - Imad Karam, MEDIACIONES
Press release
The Hardest Bridge at Féile an Phobail
Festival programme entry for the Belfast screening at St Mary's University College, Falls Road.
"Followed by a Q&A with Jo Berry and Pat Magee. Free event." - Féile an Phobail
The Hardest Bridge - online screening
Online screening followed by a conversation with the protagonists and the film-makers.
"An exclusive opportunity to meet the protagonists, Jo Berry and Pat Magee, the director Imad Karam and the producer Howard Grace." - event page
The Hardest Bridge - screening at St John's College
Event page for the Oxford screening, jointly sponsored by OxPeace and the Department of Politics and International Relations, with Jo Berry, Pat Magee, Imad Karam and Howard Grace present.
"Can the wounds of war heal? Can enemies reconcile?" - University of Oxford event page
The Hardest Bridge - film page
The official page of Jo Berry's charity: synopsis, credits and trailer.
"The film captures the depth and complexity of reconciliation, the pain, honesty, courage, and humanity involved." - Building Bridges for Peace
'The Hardest Bridge' at St Bartholomew's School, Newbury
Howard Grace's account of the screening for 200 sixth-form students, with Jo Berry and Imad Karam in conversation with the pupils.
"Both events were truly amazing and I'm so happy we got to do it." - Katya Burgess, Head Girl, quoted by Initiatives of Change
Giving a global peacemaker back to the world
Report on the launch in the UK Parliament on 5 June 2018 and the public launch at the Royal Geographical Society two days later, attended by 270 people. (Archived copy: the original IofC UK site is offline.)
"Buchman is too little known today, and I wanted to give him back to the world." - Imad Karam, quoted by Initiatives of Change UK
The Man Who Built Peace - film page and awards
Official synopsis and award list: Award of Merit Special Mention (Impact DOCS Awards), Best Short Documentary (ARFF), Best Director (European Cinematography Awards), Best Documentary (MindField Film Festival Los Angeles).
"A man you may never have heard of - and who changed the world." - Initiatives of Change
Beyond Forgiving: Cine UNACov
Screening at Coventry University for the Coventry Peace Festival, followed by a panel with executive producer Howard Grace and Dr Marwan Darweish.
"This inspirational award-winning documentary depicts their meeting and journey to bring healing and reconciliation to South Africa." - UNA Coventry
The Man Who Built Peace premiered at the ILLUMINATE Film Festival
World premiere on 4 June 2017 at the ILLUMINATE Film Festival in Sedona, Arizona, to a sold-out house - one of nine world premieres, chosen from over 400 submissions. (Archived copy.)
"I so enjoyed the film - a tour de force - and I learned so much." - audience member, quoted by Initiatives of Change
Beyond Forgiving - inspiring peace and reconciliation
Announces the film, its awards and the May 2014 UK speaking tour with Ginn Fourie and Letlapa Mphahlele.
"If people can be inspired that even in the most dire circumstances people can forgive; then many of us can forgive." - Imad Karam, quoted by the Wilderness Foundation
Study guide
Beyond Forgiving - study guide for use with the film
Official 12-page study guide: introduction, message from the film-makers, historical background, the protagonists and notes for group discussion.
"We hope that this film will stimulate thought, touch hearts, and lead to action which restores relationships." - Imad Karam and Howard Grace, study guide
Review
Film review: The Man Who Built Peace - The Frank Buchman Story
Stephen Brown reviews the film for the Church Times, praising the archive footage and the account of Buchman's post-war reconciliation work at Caux.
"Buchman was right that you could build a new world only out of people. That's where you start." - Stephen Brown, Church Times
Beyond Forgiving: spare me from being South African
Journalist John Battersby's first-person response to the film at the South Africa House screening in London.
"The story of Ginn Fourie and Letlapa Mphalele was so moving it didn't even make me cry." - John Battersby, Wilderness Foundation