Tibetan Treat for Film Buffs on 70th Year of His Holiness

Dharamshala, July 15 – People here tucked away in one of the most beautiful parts of Himachal Pradesh will be treated to a lavish and visual feast of films on Tibet. As part of the year-long 70th birthday festivities of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, organised by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) will launch a week-long Tibet Film Festival this evening. The festival takes place at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts here in Dharamsala.

The film festival will start every evening at 6.30 sharp and will go on till 22 July. Admission is free. First come and you get the best seat, rain or shine.

“It is a part of the expression of the undying gratitude of the six million Tibetan people to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his service to humanity and his own people,” said Mr. Lobsang Tsultrim Jeshong, the additional secretary of DIIR and the curator of the film festival.

“It is an opportunity for us to introduce this rich archive of films and documentaries on Tibet and His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the new generations of Tibetans and non-Tibetans who are interested in our issue,” Mr Jeshong added. “It is our hope that this festival will educate more people on Tibets rich and ancient culture and the dignity and push of the Tibetan peoples struggle,” he said.

The films include such Hollywood classics as Kundun and Seven Years in Tibet and the uproariously humorous The Cup and visually stunning Himalaya, which was nominated for an Oscar for best foreign film in 2000 under its original title of Caravan.

The documentaries showcase the BBC production called The Shadow Circus- The CIA In Tibet, Tibet: The Cry of the Snow Lion, Compassion In Exile and the Ocean of Wisdom.

If you live in Dharamsala or happen to be visiting it then, heres your chance to see Tibet. Produced below is the full programme of the festival.

16 July Compassion in Exile
17 July Kundun
18 July Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion
19 July 7 Years in Tibet
20 July The Shadow Circus-The CIA in Tibet
21 July Ocean of Wisdom
22 July 7 Years in Tibet

Entrance: Free
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts Hall