London, 4th March 2009; Joanna Lumley, British actress and long-term champion of human rights causes, will launch “Tibet Film Festival 2009 - Images and Reflections on Tibet” at the UK Houses of Parliament at 4pm today. This month marks the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising against China’s rule and 50 years in exile for the Tibetan exile community. Harry Cohen MP, Chairman of All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, will host the launch at Parliament.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama in a message received from India said of Tibet Film Festival 2009, “Through an Exile Lens and Tibet House Trust have done well to organise the festival again, which will undoubtedly make a powerful contribution to raising awareness of Tibet and the Tibetan people”. The Tibetan spiritual and temporal leader further added, “Film is a highly effective means of providing information and education. It is my sincere hope that the films on show at this festival will enable viewers to broaden their understanding and appreciation of Tibetan culture and the problems currently facing the Tibetan people, and such understanding may yet grow into support for our just cause”.

Speaking in advance of the launch, Joanna Lumley said: “I am delighted to be launching the Tibet Film Festival 2009 on the 4th March. I have great admiration for the Tibetans, and especially their leader and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, whom I have had the great honour of meeting a few times. This Tibet Film Festival offers a unique opportunity to audiences in the UK to gain a better understanding of the Tibetan culture, environment, way of life and problems they are facing under the Chinese authorities’ oppressive rule.” In an appeal to UK audiences, Joanna Lumley said: “I, therefore, hope as many people will see these films and feel inspired to make whatever contribution they can to alleviate the suffering of the Tibetan people.”

Tibet Film Festival 2009, jointly presented by Tibet House Trust and Through an Exile Lens Project (see Note 1 below), will tour throughout the UK between mid-March and the end of May (see Note 2). The festival largely focuses on new films made by independent filmmakers, both Tibetan and from around the world, and includes a number of UK premieres as well as other rarely seen material (see Note 3 below), together with a range of special events and director talks, making for a diverse and thought-provoking festival.

NOTES:

1) Information on festival organisers

Tibet House Trust:

Tibet House Trust is a UK registered charity that was inaugurated in 1994 by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the patron of the Trust. Tibet House Trust works with the Central Tibetan Administration based in Dharamsala, India, to deliver educational, health, cultural and other projects for Tibetan communities in exile, particularly in India and Nepal. Tibet House Trust is the charitable wing of the Office of Tibet in London, the official agency of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the UK, Northern Europe, Poland and the Baltic States.

http://www.tibet-house-trust.co.uk/

Through an Exile Lens:

Through an Exile Lens Project was launched in the UK in May 2008 with the aim of celebrating Tibetan visual culture whilst equally seeking to foster a deeper understanding of the Tibet issue at this critical time in Tibet’s history. Working closely with Tibetan filmmakers and artists in exile, the project serves as a platform for both established and emerging talent from within the Tibetan community.

http://www.throughanexilelens.org/

2) Tibet Film Festival 2009; locations, venues & dates (UK)

London - Rich Mix, School of Oriental and African Studies

13th/17th/19th/20th/27th March, 4th/5th April

Oxford - Phoenix Picturehouse

17th/19th/22nd/30th March

Exeter - Picturehouse

20th/22nd/29th/30th March

Newcastle - Tyneside Cinema, Side Cinema, Star and Shadow Cinema

24th/31st March, 1st/2nd/7th/8th/9th/14th/21st/28th April

Southampton - Harbour Lights Picturehouse

27th/28th March

Sheffield - Showroom Cinema

19th/20th/23rd/27th/30th April

Glasgow - Glasgow Film Theatre

late April (dates to be confirmed)

Hebden Bridge - Hebden Bridge Picturehouse

late April (dates to be confirmed)

Nottingham - Broadway

1st-6th May

Edinburgh - Edinburgh Filmhouse

7th-14th May

Bristol - Watershed Cinema

May (dates to be confirmed)

Manchester - Cornerhouse

late May (dates to be confirmed)

3) Film festival programme

The brochure for Tibet Film Festival 2009 can be downloaded from:

http://www.throughanexilelens.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/tibet_film_fest.pdf

The festival programme comprises a number of UK premieres and award winning films. Highlights of the festival include:

His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Lhasa, capital of Tibet, prior to March 1959