The ninth Tibet film festival opened its doors to film enthusiasts from around the world simultaneously in Zurich, Switzerland and at Tibetan Children’s Village day school in McLeod Ganj. The two day festival took place from October 13 – 15 and provided a platform for Tibetan filmmakers both from Tibetans in exile and from Tibet. The festival is the first festival solely dedicated to Tibetan filmmakers and presents films produced and/or directed by Tibetans.
The festival kicked off with the screening of an interview with former political prisoner Dhondup Wangchen. Dhondup Wangchen, who now lives in the United States, was imprisoned by the Chinese authorities without a proper judicial process after completing his documentary Leaving Fear Behind in 2008. The film documented the plight and pain of Tibetans living under Chinese rule and their hopes of seeing His Holiness the Dalai Lama return to his homeland in Tibet. The Tibet film festival has been dedicated to Dhondup Wangchen since its founding in 2008.
Wangdrak’s rainboots, a short film by Lhapa Gyal, hailed by Phayul as the highlight of the festival, was screened after Dhondup Wangchen’s interview.
The festival line up of films included Tales From the Pastures by Tsering Wangmo, Jangthang by Tseten Dorjee, Lhasa Blues (2018) by Shenpenn Khymsar, Born in Battle (2015) by Yangzom Brauen, Barley fields on the Other Side of the Mountain (2017) by Tian Tsering and Summer Pasture (2010) by Lynn True, Nelson Walker and Tsering Perlo. The TFF also showcased a non-Tibetan production, Hu Wei’s Butter Lamp, which was nominated for the Academy Awards for the best live action short film.
Tsering Wangmo, Winner of the short feature film
The short film competition joint winners were Tsering Wangmo’s Tales From the Pastures and Tseten Dorjee’s Jangthang, sharing the US$1,000 prize.
The festival film makers have been acclaimed for depicting the everyday life of Tibetans on the screen for film enthusiasts around the world.
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