Dharamshala: Dharamshala is gearing up for the three-day, second annual Tibet Film Festival from October 26-28. The year's festival, which focuses on the theme of "courage," will first be presented to His Holiness the Karampa, followed by a presentation to festival sponsors.
"We are blessed to have His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa with us at this Benefit Event and his support to the Tibet Film Festival," says festival coordinator, Nyima Thondup.
Organizers of the Tibet Film Festival are holding a benefit event at the Art Gallery in the Norbulingka Insitute. His Holiness the 17th Karmapa will grace the occasion. The objective of the benefit is to support TIbetan film makers through the initiatives of the Tibet Film Festival. His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa believes this is a perfect opportunity for Tibetans to gain a strong sense of selfworth and pride in their identity and accomplishments.
The 2012 Festival will take place with the same programme in Dharamsala, India and Zurich, Switzerland. This year's first place film will be awarded 500 dollars, second place 300 dollars and third place 250 dollars.
Conceptualized in 2008, The Tibet film festival focuses on films made by Tibetan film-makers from Tibet and in exile. The Gyalwang Karmapa and festival organizers hope the festival will serve as a platform for young, inspired Tibetan film makers to continue making films about Tibet. The fourth annual event is a collaborative effort from Filming for Tibet; Tibetan Youth Association in Europe; and Students for a free Tibet, India.
The Tibet Film Festival will showcase around 20 feature films, shorts and documentaries and films by previous winners of the Tibet Film Festival. One of the main highlights of this year's film festival will be Pema Tseden's international award winning film "Old Dog." His previous film "Search" and his cinematographer Sonthar Gyal's film "The Sun Beaten Path," were both screened at last years Tibet Film Festival.
This year's festival will offer other platforms such as workshop discussions and forums where the general public and filmmakers can exchange their views on film making and the topic of Tibet.
Last year, participants from Asia, North America, and Europe took part in the annual short film competition, which focused on the theme of "Ama" (Tibetan for Mother). The theme "Ama" was chosen for its universality; it could be about one's own ancestry or searching for one's origin.
The 2012 Tibet Film Festival is dedicated to Dhondup Wangchen, who was detained shortly after completing filming his documentary, "Leaving Fear Behind." On 28 Dec., 2009, in a Chinese court, Dhondup Wanchen was sentenced to six years in prison because of his filming activites. The production of "Leaving Fear Behind," which was screened all over the world, was completed in Switzerland by Filming For Tibet.
For more information on the Tibet Film Festival, visit www.filmingfortibet.org
