In an era shadowed by the Cold War's persistent dread, two films resonated powerfully with the public and world leaders. The 2023 Future of Life Award honors the visionaries behind these narratives: Walter F. Parkes and Larry Lasker are behind the riveting techno-thriller "WarGames," while the groundbreaking television event "The Day After" comes from the visionary Brandon Stoddard, with Edward Hume as the screenwriter and Nicholas Meyer as the director.

Released in the tension-filled year of 1983, these films not only reflected the era's nuclear anxieties but also played a direct role in shaping policy. They went beyond mere entertainment, acting as significant catalysts for dialogue. These films influenced policymakers and raised public awareness about the grave risks associated with nuclear warfare, leading to tangible, preventative action from leaders.

Witness how their creative vision transcended the silver screen to safeguard the future of our world, as we celebrate their achievement with a video tribute to the 2023 Future of Life Award recipients.

–––

Every year, the Future of Life Award honors unsung individuals whose achievements helped make today dramatically better than it might otherwise have been.

Read more about this year’s award:
https://futureoflife.org/FLA

Hear the Future of Life Award 2023 featuring on this StarTalk podcast episode:
   • How Two Movies Prevented Nuclear War ...  

What would happen if AI were integrated into today’s nuclear command and control systems?
   • Artificial Escalation  

How bad would it be if there were a nuclear war between the USA and Russia today?
   • How would a nuclear war between Russi...  

Our recent podcast ‘Imagine A World’ envisions a positive future with AI:
   • Imagine A World Podcast