presents          

   

Bringing  Tibet  Home    

a  film  by  Tenzin  Tsetan  Choklay    

   

a  Five  by  Nine  Films  production    

US/India/Nepal/S.  Korea  2013  I  82  mins  I  DCP  Tibetan/Hindi/Nepali/English  +  English  Subtitles  

     

-­‐  Released  in  UK:  12  December  2014  -­‐                  contact:  Sonali  Joshi  (sonali@day-­‐for-­‐night.org)  day  for  night*  I  154  St  Paul’s  Rd  I  London  N1  2LL  www.day-­‐for-­‐night.org  

Winner:    PRIX  DU  JEUNE  JURY  EUROPÉEN  –  27th  FIPA  

Festival  International  de  Programmes  Audiovisuels,  France  2014    

Emerging  Director  Award  -­‐  Asian  American  Int’l  Film  Festival  2014  NY    

Official  Festival  Selections:  Busan  International  Film  Festival  2013  

Brisbane  International  Film  Festival  2013  27th  FIPA  Festival  International  de  Programmes  Audiovisuels  2014  

CAAMFest  2014  AAIFF14  NY  

BFFE  Amsterdam  2014  Dharamsala  International  Film  Festival  2014  

 Market  Showcase:  

Berlin  International  Film  Festival  EFM  IFP  Selects  American  Independents  IDFA  Docs  for  Sale  

 www.day-­‐for-­‐night.org/bringing-­‐tibet-­‐home  

 www.bringingtibethome.com  

 

   LOGLINE  When  a  Tibetan   refugee  dies   from  a   terminal   illness,  his   last  wish   to  set   foot  on  his  native  soil   remains  unfulfilled...  until  his  son,  a  New  York-­‐based  artist,  embarks  on  an  unthinkable  journey.    SYNOPSIS  Bringing  Tibet  Home  is  the  pivotal,  poignant  and  deeply  personal  debut  feature  documentary  by  Tibetan  filmmaker   Tenzin   Tsetan   Choklay.   The   film   crew   follows   from   start   to   finish   New   York-­‐based   Tibetan  contemporary  artist  Tenzing  Rigdol  while  he  creates  his  most  ambitious,  political  and  crucial   installation  yet,   the   Soil   Project.   Inspired   by   his   father's   dying  wish,   to   once   again   set   foot   on   Tibetan   soil,   Rigdol  transported  native   soil   from  Tibet   through  Nepal   to  Dharamsala,   India,   to  bring   a  piece  of   Tibet   to   the  exile   community   who   are   unable   to   return   to   their  homeland.   Choklay   films   Rigdol's   physical   and  emotional  journey  to  overcome  seemingly  insurmountable  challenges  as  he  navigates  the  border  controls  of  three  countries  to  smuggle  out  20  tons  of  Tibetan  soil.  A  deeply  inspiring  portrait  of  human  resilience  at  its  most  tested,  and  a  profound  example  of  enduring  creativity  through  times  of  political  turmoil.    

 

   THE  STORY  Bringing  Tibet  Home  follows  New  York-­‐based  contemporary  Tibetan  artist  Tenzing  Rigdol  as  he  sets  out  on  a  mission  to  bring  Tibet  closer  to  its  people  through  an  art  project  inspired  by  his  late  father’s  dying  wish  to  breathe  his  last  in  his  ancestral  homeland.      Tenzing’s  father  died  of  cancer  in  2009  at  a  hospital  in  New  York,  thousands  of  miles  away  from  Tibet.  His  dying  wish   to   set   foot  on  Tibetan   soil  one   last   time   remained  unfulfilled  due   to  political   circumstances.  Shattered   by   this   experience,   Tenzing   knows   that   the   dream   to   return   to   their   lost   nation   is   a   dream  shared  by  all  Tibetans  living  in  exile.    In  2011,  two  years  after  his  father’s  death,  artist  Tenzing  Rigdol  has  the  idea  to  create  a  site-­‐specific  art  installation  in  Dharamsala,  India.  He  boards  a  plane  from  New  York  and  heads  to  Nepal.  Together  with  the  help  of  a   few   friends,  he  makes  his  way  up   to   the  Tibetan  border  and  begins  work  on  his  new  project.  Because  of  its  highly  political  implications,  the  work  is  done  in  secret.    The   project   is   entitled   “Our   Land,  Our   People”   and   involves   transporting   of   20,000   kilograms   of   native  Tibetan   soil   from   Tibet   to   India   through   Nepal.   Tenzing   will   make   a   site-­‐specific   art   installation   in   the  middle  of  Dharamsala,  the  capital  of  the  Tibetan  exile  world.    As  soon  as  Tenzing  sets  foot  in  Nepal,  new  dangers  become  apparent,  for  it  is  common  knowledge  among  Tibetans  that  Chinese  spies  and  agents  keep  close  watch  on  Tibetan  political  activities  in  the  region.  The  project  suddenly  carries  the  very  real  possibility  of  arrest  and  danger  for  everyone  involved.    In  the  weeks  that  follow,  Tenzing  and  his  team  try  to  find  a  way  to  legally  bring  the  soil  out  of  Tibet.  But  when  the  Chinese  authorities  refuse  to  let  it  out,  the  only  option  they  have  is  to  smuggle  it  out.  Although  Tenzing   is  not  strictly  religious,   in  times  of  desperation,  he  and  his  team  rely  on  premonitions,  Buddhist  prayers,  and  rituals  to  pave  a  smoother  way  for  the  project.  But  even  then,  they  face  numerous  hurdles.      Tenzing  says,  “I   think  everybody  has  some  sense  of  belonging  to  whatever  country  one   is   from.  But   I'm  amongst   those   six   million   Tibetans   who   never   had   that   choice…   So   there's   always   something   absent.  Something  that  makes  it  incomplete.”    Through  his  story  and  through  this  groundbreaking  work  of  art,  Tenzing  Rigdol  enables  the  displaced  to  “return”   home.  Although   Tenzing’s  work   examines   the  plight   of   the   Tibetan  people   in   exile,   it   also   has  wider  resonance,  exploring  the  notion  of  nostalgia,  the  idea  of  homeland,  and  how  art  is  intertwined  with  the  political  and  the  social.  It  sets  a  new  standard  for  art  that  carries  true  meaning  in  today’s  world,  and  also  demonstrates  the  transgressive  power  of  art  as  an  act  of  defiance.  

 

DIRECTOR’S  STATEMENT  Bringing   Tibet  Home   is   a   special   project   for  me.   Although   it   tells   the   story   of  artist   Tenzing   Rigdol,   in   a   way   I   am   also   telling   my   own   story   through   his  experiences.  Like  Tenzing  Rigdol,  my  parents  also  escaped  from  Tibet  after  1959  and  have  not  been  able  to  return  home  since.      As  Tibetans  born  and  raised  in  exile,  this  desire  to  see  our  homeland  is  very  real  and  it   is  a  part  of  our  daily  existence.  When  Tenzing  Rigdol  first  told  me  about  his  plans   to  bring  20,000  kilograms  of  native  soil   from  Tibet   to   India,   I  had  no  doubt  that  if  he  succeeded,  he  would  be  able  to  touch  the  hearts  of  thousands  of  Tibetans  living  in  exile  and  somehow  give  each  of  us  a  sense  of  relief  and  joy  in  this  time  of  despair.      As  a  filmmaker  I  felt  that  through  this  film  I  could  share  a  very  special  experience  with  other  Tibetans  and  the  larger  international  community.  In  this  day  and  age,  a  great  number  of  us  spend  our  lives  away  from  our  homes,  some  by  choice  and  some  due  to  circumstances.  And  of  course  speaking  of  art,  I  think  Tenzing  Rigdol's  Soil  Project  sets  a  new  and  a  very  high  standard  not  just  for  the  world  of  conceptual  art  but  for  art  which  carries  real  meaning  and  purpose.  These  are  some  of  the  reasons  why  I  decided  to  make  this  film.  –  Tenzin  Tsetan  Choklay    

SUBJECT  BIOGRAPHY  Tenzing  Rigdol  is  one  of   the  most  well   known  contemporary  Tibetan  artists  based   in   the   United  States.   His   work   ranges   from   paintings,   sculptures,  drawings,   and   digital   media   to   video   installations   and   site-­‐specific  performance   pieces.   He   has   exhibited   extensively   throughout   the   United  States  as  well  as  in  many  different  cities  around  the  world.      His   artwork   is   held   in  major  museums   and   collections  worldwide   including  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art  in  New  York.  He  is  represented  by  Rossi  and  Rossi  Gallery,  London.    Tenzing   Rigdol   was   born   in   Kathmandu,   Nepal,   in   1982   to   Tibetan   refugee  parents.  He  went  to  school  in  India  and  Nepal  and  later  moved  to  the  United  

States  to  pursue  his   interest   in  art.  He  studied  at  the  University  of  Colorado  at  Denver  and  graduated  in  2004  with   a   degree   in   Fine   Art   and  Art   History.   Tenzing   is   also   an   accomplished   poet   and   three   of   his  books  have  been  published  by  the  Tibet  Writes  group.  Tenzing  currently  resides  in  Queens,  New  York  City.  

 BIOGRAPHIES  Tenzin  Tsetan  Choklay:  Director,  Producer,  Cinematographer  &  Editor  Tenzin  Tsetan  Choklay  (b.  1979)  is  a  New  York-­‐based  Tibetan  filmmaker.  Born  to  Tibetan  refugee  parents,  Tenzin  grew  up  in  Dharamsala  in  northern  India.  He  studied  directing  at  the  Korean  Academy  of  Film  Arts  in  Seoul,  South  Korea.  His  past  films  include  a  number  of  short  films  including  History  of  Momos   (2007),  Elif's  Seoulitude  (2007)  and  Tell  Tale  (2008).  He  was  also  Associate  Producer  for  the  documentary  The  Sun  Behind  the  Clouds.  Bringing  Tibet  Home  is  Tenzin’s  debut  feature  documentary.    Bernadine  Colish  -­‐  Editor  Bernadine  Colish   is   an   editor  who  has  worked  on   a  number  of   award-­‐winning  documentaries   including  Body  of  War  (2007)  directed  by  Ellen  Spiro  and  Phil  Donahue  which  was  named  Best  Documentary  by  the  National  Board  of  Review  and  was  on   the  2007  Academy  Award   shortlist.  A  Touch  of  Greatness   (2004)  aired  on  PBS  and  was  nominated   for  a  2006  Emmy  Award.  The  Buffalo  War   (2001)  was  given  a  Golden  Gate  Award  for  Best  Environmental  Film  at  the  2001  San  Francisco  International  Film  Festival.  Her  career  began   at  Maysles   Films,  where   she  worked  with   Charlotte   Zwerin   on   such   projects   as  Toru   Takemitsu:  Music  for  the  Movies  and  the  PBS  American  Masters  documentary,  Ella  Fitzgerald:  Something  To  Live  For.  Additional  credits  include  Herb  and  Dorothy,  Absolute  Wilson  and  Muslims  for  PBS  Frontline.  

Tenzin  Tsetan  Choklay  

Tenzin  Rigdol

 Milica  Zec  -­‐  Co-­‐editor  Milica  Zec  is  a  Serbian  born  editor  living  in  NYC.  Her  work  as  an  editor  includes  narrative  and  documentary  films,  museum  installations,  television  series,  and  music  videos  for  diverse  clients  such  as  PBS,  and  others.  Her  recent  credits  include  documentary  film,  Fire  Under  the  Snow  and  feature  film  Zenith.    Joel  Diamond  -­‐  Music  Composer  New  York-­‐based  composer  Joel  Diamond  has  long  and  diverse  career  as  a  composer,  arranger,  producer,  and   performer   of   contemporary   music.   His   varied   career   is   noteworthy   for   an   extraordinary   array   of  eclectic   choices   and   influences.   Equally   adept   in   Eastern   and   American   repertoires,   his   preferences   as  both  performer  and  composer  are  avant-­‐garde.  A  fusion  of  traditional  orchestral  music  and  contemporary  electronica  contributes  to  Diamond’s  striking  film-­‐score  style.  Some  of  his  films  include:  Milarepa  (Shining  Moon  Productions),  The  Believer  (Henry  Bean,  Director)  Jack  Smith  and  the  Destruction  of  Atlantis  (Mary  Jordon,  Director).  He  was  awarded  an  AFI  Award  for  his  work  on  The  Believer.    Tenzin  Choegyal  -­‐  Music  Composer  Tenzin  Choegyal  is  an  Australia-­‐based  Tibetan  singer  and  musician.  Tenzin  draws  on  his  traditional  Tibetan  roots   to   create   original   compositions,   which   uniquely   express   his   cultural   lineage.   Born   to   a   nomadic  family  in  southeast  Tibet,  Tenzin  escaped  into  Nepal  and  was  raised  in  the  Tibetan  refugee  community  in  Dharamsala,  India.  Over  the  last  two  decades  Tenzin  has  performed  to  audiences  around  the  world.  Most  recently  in  2011,  Tenzin  performed  at  the  Carnegie  Hall  in  New  York  City  alongside  artists  including  Phillip  Glass,  Patti  Smith  and  Michael  Stipe.    CREDITS  Directed  by         Tenzin  Tsetan  Choklay  Produced  by         Tenzing  Rigdol,  Tenzin  Tsetan  Choklay  Associate  Producers       Diana  Takata,  Don  Thompson    Cinematography         Tenzin  Tsetan  Choklay  Additional  Photography       Michael  Fuchs,  Nishant  Purohit  Editors           Bernadine  Colish,  Tenzin  Tsetan  Choklay  Co-­‐editor         Milica  Zec  Music           Joel  Diamond,  Tenzin  Choegyal  Featuring  (In  order  of  appearance):     Tenzing  Rigdol,  Topten  Tsering,  Neljor,  

His  Holiness  the  14th  Dalai  Lama    Production  Five  by  Nine  Films    With  support  from:  Isdell  Foundation  AFA  Busan  International  Film  Festival  Fellowship  Fund  nextPix  Productions  Independent  Filmmaker  Project  (IFP)  Shelly  &  Donald  Rubin  Foundation    Distributed  in  the  UK  &  Ireland  by  day  for  night*      day  for  night*   is  a  London  based  independent  film  company.  Working  across  the  exhibition,  distribution  and  screen  translation  sectors,  day  for  night*  occupies  a  niche  position  within  the  UK  film  industry,  with  the  promotion  of  cultural  diversity  and  accessibility  at  the  core  of  its  activities.  day  for  night*  works  with  film  festivals,  venues,  filmmakers  and  audiences,  with  the  central  aim  of  enabling  broader  access  to  visual  culture  through  distribution  and  curatorial  projects.    www.day-­‐for-­‐night.org