Tibet Film Festival

dublin | arts and media | event notice Friday July 31, 2009 14:41 by Namgyal Damdul - Tibetan Community in Ireland

A Tibet Film Festival will be held in Dublin on 15th & 29th August, 2009 in support for the imprisoned Tibetan Filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen.

Venue: RUA RED, Tallaght (near Luas last stop)
(www.ruared.ie)

Saturday 15th August, 2009

2.35 - 3 pm: Leaving Fear Behind (25 mins)

3.15 - 4.03 pm: Undercover in Tibet (48 mins)

4.35 - 5 pm: Leaving Fear Behind (25 mins)

Saturday 29th August, 2009

2.35 - 4.33 pm: Dreaming of Tibet (58 mins)

4.45 – 4.37 pm: Tibet's Cry for Freedom (52 mins)

4.45 – 5.10 pm: Leaving Fear Behind (25 mins)

These films contain challenging images. Parental guidance is advised for Under 15s.

Note: Screening times are subject change.

The film festival will feature Dhondup’s documentary film “Leaving Fear Behind”, filmed inside Tibet to bring the feelings of Tibetans on Beijing Olympic, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Chinese rule to the outside world. The documentary is scheduled to be screened three times during the film festival.

Mr. Namgyal Damdul, Chairman of the Tibetan Community in Ireland (TCinI) which is organizing the film festival in collaboration with the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama said “Dhondup’s courage in undertaking this project and making it available to the outside world despite being aware of the risks involved has made him an icon for the Tibetans around the world. His courage and determination are huge inspirations to the Tibetan people inside and outside Tibet. We salute him.”

According to some sources, Dhondup might face trail in the next few days. His lawyers were refused permission to defend him on the grounds that his case involved "state secrets". He was detained on 26th March, 2008 after he filmed the documentary with the help of Jigme Gyatso, a Tibetan monk from Labrang Monastery. Dhondup is being held in Xining City No.1 Detention Centre and he is in seriously poor health suffering from the affects of torture he received while under interrogation. He is also suffering from Hepatitis B, for which he has received no medical treatment.

Depending on the interests from the public, the film festival may be extended to screen more Tibetan documentaries. TCinI will campaign for the release of Dhondup throughout the film festival in Dublin. “Longer Dhondup is in prison, longer will be the international campaign against China” added Mr. Damdul.

The film festival will also feature “Undercover in Tibet” which was filmed secretly inside Tibet for three months. It highlights the sufferings of Tibetan people in their daily life under the Chinese rule. It includes interviews of Tibetans nomads who were forced to settle down and give up their centuries’s old traditional livelihood. It also includes interviews of Tibetan women who were forced to undergo sterilization. “This is a rare glimpse of the sufferings endured by Tibetans in their daily life under the Chinese regime. Forced settlement of Tibetan nomads and forced sterilization of Tibetan women reinforce China’s policy to wipe out Tibetan culture and identity through assimilation” said Mr. Damdul.

Other films featuring in the film festival include “Dreaming of Tibet” and “Tibet’s Cry for Freedom”.