8th Edition of Tibet Film Festival held in Dharamsala

DHARAMSALA, Oct 15: The eight edition of Tibet Film Festival was held at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts in Dharamsala over Oct 14-15.

DSC_1818The festival opened with Paris-based Tibetan woman filmmaker Tenzin Dazel’s second short film ‘Royal Cafe’ which was much appreciated and applauded by the audience.

Other films that were screened at the two-day festival include ‘Mystic Mountain’ by Tsering Dhondup, a Nepal-based Tibetan filmmaker, ‘Jigden’ by Shenphen from New York, ‘The Sun Beaten Path’ by Sonthar Gyal from Tibet and ‘The Sacred Arrow’ and internationally acclaimed film ‘Tharlo’ by Tibetan filmmaking stalwart Pema Tseden from Tibet.

A short film made by Petoen School’s photography and film club, where students write, direct and edit their own short films under the guidance of their teachers, was also screened at the festival.

DSC_1788There were nine entries this year for the short film competition on the topic ‘Dream’. Shavo Dorjee, a Dharamsala-based actor known for playing the role of the protagonist in the international award winning film ‘Pawo’ won both the jury award and audience poll for his short film ‘The Last Note’.

The Tibet Film Festival (TFF) restricts itself to screening of films made by Tibetan filmmakers or films where Tibetans have a huge involvement. The festival is simultaneously held in Zurich, Switzerland where TFF first began its journey in 2009, inspired by a self-taught Tibetan filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen who was imprisoned for his film ‘Leaving Fear Behind’.

22553838_1492621197482995_1024240645_o-768x507“It is our endeavour to continue to bring films from Tibet to the festival, thereby facilitating a conversation through films between Tibetans in Tibet and Tibetans in exile. We believe we have a lot to learn from our brothers and sisters across the Himalayas – showcasing films written, directed, produced by Tibetans inside Tibet is an effort to do just that,” Festival Coordinator, Tenzin Dhondup said.