The European Film Awards recently honored Croatian director Igor Bezinović for his documentary 'Fiume o Morte!,' about the 1919 conquest of Rijeka. In his acceptance speech, Bezinović thanked local non-professional actors and highlighted recent protests by 55,000 students across 90 cities against Germany's militarisation and conscription. He hoped these protests would inspire European students. Pacifism remains central to modern Europe, which values peace after a long period of avoiding conflict. Yet calls to rearm Europe have grown since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and rising global tensions. Germany's new defense plans stop short of conscription but mark a shift from past pacifism. Critics say European leaders have been slow and cautious. The debate raises questions for artists and thinkers. The Guardian's Charlotte Higgins pointed to Ukrainian filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov’s documentary '2000 Meters to Andriivka,' praised for its empathy towards soldiers rather than glorifying war. Former Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba described Europe's potential future as an 'armed pacifist,' a paradox more familiar to artists than politicians. The European Film Awards continue to celebrate stories that explore complex truths, far from simple political answers.