Producer Marya Morstad continues the “Radio mnartists” series of podcasts and KFAI radio interviews with Minnesota artists. Listen to her interview with Cortland Dahl, Founder of The Rime Foundation, which presents The 2007 Tibetan Film Festival.
- Tibetan Film Festival (MP3)
The Twin Cities Tibetan Film Festival will premiere ten critically acclaimed films that explore Tibet’s timeless spiritual and cultural traditions as well as its troubled political history. Opening night will feature explorer Ann Bancroft as guest speaker, who will introduce the film “Daughters of Everest” and talk about her personal interest in Tibetan culture.
To celebrate the start of the International Year of Tibet, the Twin Cities, home to the second-largest Tibetan immigrant population in the United States, will also host both Mrs. Jetsun Pema, sister to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, and author of “Tibet: My Story,” and the Gyuto Monks of Tibet, Masters of Chant & Ritual Arts for a series of historic public appearances throughout the month of May.
Cortland Dahl is a Buddhist meditation scholar and Tibetan translator who divides his time between Katmandu and Minneapolis. He founded The Rime Foundation, a local non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Tibet’s rich heritage by providing access to its spiritual practices and cultural resources.
Related Events:
Tibetan Film Festival
The Twin Cities Tibetan Film Festival will premiere ten critically acclaimed films that explore Tibet’s timeless spiritual and cultural traditions and its troubled political history. The festival will feature an on-going silent auction of Tibetan art before and after each screening. Proceeds for both the silent auction and film festival will benefit the Tibetan American Foundation of MN, Society for Gyuto Sacred Arts, and The Rimé Foundation, three non-profit organizations dedicated to the preservation of Tibet’s rich heritage by providing access to its spiritual practices and cultural resources.
2007 Tibetan Film Festival
May 10-13
Riverview Theater
612-729-7369
3800 42nd Avenue South
Minneapolis
Mrs. Jetsun Pema and The Gyuto Tibetan Tantric Choir
About Mrs. Jetsun Pema
Sister of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and award-winning child advocate, Mrs. Jetsun Pema will be visiting the Twin Cities at the request of alumni from her schools in India who have settled in Minnesota. She is affectionately known as “Ama-la” (mother) to the thousands of Tibetans to whom she has served as teacher and surrogate parent in her work serving Tibetan refugee children. Jetsun Pema received The World's Children's Honorary Award 2006 for her 40-year struggle for the Tibetan refugee children in India.
About The Gyuto Monks
The monks of the legendary Gyuto Tantric University represent an ancient Buddhist tradition dating to the year of the Monastery’s founding in 1474. The Gyuto monks spend years in solitude and study in their remote Himalayan monasteries, and only rarely venture out of their tranquil environs to bring their highly refined liturgical arts to the general public. Monks typically begin their membership in a monastic order in childhood. Only the most highly qualified young monks attain the highest levels of scholarship and practice, which allows inclusion into Gyuto Monastery. The Gyuto Monks were brought to wider public awareness after being “discovered” by musicians such as Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead and Philip Glass, the contemporary classical composer. The chants and unique multi-tonal sounds of the Gyuto Monks have been included in film soundtracks for “Seven Years in Tibet” and Martin Scorsese’s “Kundun.”
Performance Schedule
May 12, 2007 / 8pm
The Gyuto Tibetan Tantric Choir
Basilica of Saint Mary
Hennepin Ave. at N. 16th, Minneapolis
www.mary.org / (612) 333-1381
Tickets $15 / $10 seniors, students and low income
May 13, 2007 / 10am – 5pm
Family Day featuring the Gyuto Tibetan Tantric Choir
Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis
Activities to include Butter Sculpture, Prayer Flag Assembly and Documentary Screenings
Free and open to the public
May 20, 2007 / 6:30pm
The Gyuto Tibetan Tantric Choir
Center for Religious Inquiry at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
519 Oak Grove St, Minneapolis
www.religiousenquiry.com / (612) 870-7800
Tickets $15 / $10 seniors, students and low income
May 24, 2007 / 7:30pm
The Gyuto Tibetan Tantric Choir
Cedar Cultural Center
416 Cedar Ave. S, Minneapolis
www.thecedar.org / (612) 338-2674
Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at door / $10 students
May 27, 2007 / 7:00pm
The Gyuto Tibetan Tantric Choir
St Joan of Arc Church
4537 3rd Ave. S, Minneapolis
www.stjoan.com / (612) 823-8205
Tickets $15 / $10 seniors, students and low income
May 29, 2007 / 7pm
Keynote Speaker: Mrs. Jetsun Pema
Opening Performance by The Gyuto Tibetan Tantric Choir
The Children’s Theatre Company
2400 3rd St, Minneapolis
www.childrenstheatre.org / (612) 874-0400 (reservations open May 1)
Featuring Jetsun Pema; Educator, Child Advocate and Sister of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama.
Tickets $28, $22 Adult / $15 Child/Student/Senior
May 31 and June 1, 2007 / 7pm
Keynote Speaker: Mrs. Jetsun Pema
Opening Performance by The Gyuto Tibetan Tantric Choir
Jeanne D’Arc Auditorium, The College of Saint Catherine
2004 Randolph Ave, St. Paul
www.ticketworks.org / (651) 690-6000 (reservations open May 1)
Program to include speech, performance and documentary short
Tickets $20