“There Is Another Way” Illuminates Peace Through Humanity and Hope

Stephen Apkon’s latest documentary, backed by James Cameron, opens hearts across a divided world

“Cinema can be one of the most powerful weapons for peace by sharing the best of humanity and showing what is possible—even in the most dire of circumstances.” — Stephen Apkon

In a moment where polarization often eclipses compassion, filmmaker Stephen Apkon returns with a poignant and powerful new documentary: There Is Another Way. Launching a nationwide screening tour beginning March 13 in the Bay Area, the film tells the story of Combatants for Peace, a grassroots movement made up of former Israeli and Palestinian fighters who laid down their weapons to build peace—together.

The film is more than timely. It’s essential.

A Radical Idea: Shared Humanity

Backed by a powerhouse production team that includes James Cameron, Maria Wilhelm, Marcina Hale, and Colum McCann, There Is Another Way challenges the binaries that dominate media coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Instead of asking viewers to take a side, it dares them to see both sides—and beyond.

“What if ‘my people’ are all people? How do we navigate conflict then?” — Maria Wilhelm, Executive Producer

“We’re not facing a geopolitical crisis. We’re facing a crisis of consciousness.” — Stephen Apkon

Stories of shared humanity

Apkon first met members of Combatants for Peace over a decade ago while filming Disturbing the Peace. Their story stayed with him. When conflict reignited, he returned—not to cover devastation, but to showcase transformation.

“They found they had something in common—the willingness to kill people they didn’t know,” he says. “Once they built up enough trust in each other, they found they also had the capacity for compassion, for peace, and for love.”

Disrupting the Narrative

“The film does what all good films should do—it disrupts us and makes us question what we think or thought.” — Colum McCann

While the film acknowledges the real pain and trauma experienced by both Israelis and Palestinians, it doesn’t dwell in despair. Instead, There Is Another Way moves through grief and suffering to show what lies on the other side: hope.

“The Combatants for Peace—Palestinians and Israelis—model what is possible,” says Apkon. “Not just there, but for all of us.”

Suffering ignites new beginnings

“It is through suffering and grief that the people in the film commit to finding another way.”

The Power of Visual Storytelling

Working closely with editor Sean Gallagher, Apkon crafted a film that’s less about reporting and more about feeling.

“We were always looking to create a felt experience,” he explains. “Not a reporting of who did what to whom.”

The result is a film that feels deeply personal, intimate, and immersive—one that refuses to offer easy answers and instead opens a space for reflection, dialogue, and healing.

The Tour That Builds Bridges

The There Is Another Way screening tour is intentionally expansive, heading to theaters, community centers, places of worship, and universities. Each stop features Q&As and community dialogues, often joined by the film’s subjects.

“Every audience brings their own energy,” Apkon shares. “People regularly say, ‘This isn’t just about them. This is about us too.’”

Even viewers deeply entrenched in polarized movements have emerged transformed. Apkon recalls moments when audience members on either side of the conflict began to reimagine their stance and see the humanity in ‘the other.’

Feel the film’s magic

“That’s when we know the film is working,” he says.

Cameron’s Commitment to Humanity

James Cameron, never one to attach his name lightly, joined the film as Executive Producer after a private screening moved him profoundly.

“The film reaffirmed my faith in the human species,” Cameron said. “Vengeance is always a downward spiral. The people in this film embody a new way forward.”

Cameron’s involvement not only signals the weight of the film’s message—it also positions it to reach new, broader audiences who might not otherwise engage with peace-centered narratives.

A Weapon of Peace

“This film is a weapon of peace. If enough people see it, it can change the world.” — Colum McCann

What sets There Is Another Way apart isn’t just its subject matter—it’s its approach. It doesn’t sensationalize conflict. It doesn’t moralize. It invites. It listens. It reflects.

“It’s a choice. And it’s not a one-time choice. It’s a choice we make every day.” — Avner Wishnitzer, Combatants for Peace

Awaken inner discord now

“The first peace we need to disturb,” Apkon adds, “is the peace within ourselves—the comfort of our own beliefs.”

See the Film, Join the Conversation

The nationwide tour kicks off March 13, with screenings in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., Portland, and more. For details on where to see the film and join the conversation, visit the official website: 👉 www.thereisanotherwayfilm.com

“It speaks to the idea of the ‘possible’ within the supposedly impossible.” — Colum McCann

“We just need to choose it.” — Maria Wilhelm

📍 For press inquiries, contact Amy Prenner: (310) 709-1101 🎥 Watch the trailer: There Is Another Way | Official Trailer 📅 Tour updates: Follow the film on Instagram or visit the events calendar on the website.

There Is Another Way isn’t just a film—it’s a mirror held up to humanity, asking us all: What would peace look like, if we chose it?

And are we brave enough to choose it—every day?

🕊️ For more stories on films that disrupt, connect, and heal, stay with us at Film Daily.