Buddhist Cinema Festival Explores Spirituality and Modernity in Rome and Beyond
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A festival combining cinema and spirituality opened Thursday at the Aquila cinema in Rome, offering a unique lens through which to examine contemporary issues. The IV Edition of the Meetings with Buddhist Cinema features fifteen films designed to resonate with both the heart and conscience, according to festival organizers. Screenings, offered with free admission and presented in original language with Italian subtitles, will continue through Saturday in Rome before moving to Perugia’s Méliès cinema from November 7-9 and concluding at the Cineteca di Bologna on a date yet to be determined.
A Diverse Program of Films
The festival’s program showcases a diverse range of cinematic works, from short films to documentaries and feature-length narratives. Today’s schedule began with My Lens, My Land (2024), directed by Ke Chen, a short film chronicling the life of Daze, a Tibetan nomad whose perspective is transformed through photography. The film explores themes of environmental crisis and the preservation of a unique cultural philosophy.
Following My Lens, My Land, attendees viewed The Dalai Lama’s Gift (2024), a documentary by Ed Bastian, the culmination of over four decades of work. The film is described as “a cinematic capsule of time and an invitation to love,” capturing the enduring wisdom of the Dalai Lama.
The afternoon continued with No More to Say and Nothing to Weep For (2025), directed by Collin Still, a tribute to Allen Ginsberg, the iconic figure of the Beat Generation and a key influence in bringing Buddhism to the West. Notably, director Still was present at the screening to engage with the audience.
Evening Screenings and Upcoming Previews
The evening schedule featured a double feature beginning at 8:15 pm with Hema Hema: Sing Me a Song While I Wait (2016), directed by Khyentse Norbu, and followed by Seeking (2025) by Chinese director Yang Yuan. Hema Hema delves into a mysterious ceremony celebrated every twelve years in the Bhutanese jungle, while Seeking follows a young Tibetan woman, Zoma, as she journeys through Tokyo to understand her father’s life and her own devotion to Buddhist principles.
Sunday, October 12th, promises further compelling selections, including Italian previews of Sapana – Himalan Trek to Dreams (2025) by Cezary Adamski and Mola: A Tibetan Tale of Love and Loss (2024) by Martin Brauen and Yangzon Brauen.
Cinema as a Bridge to Understanding
Maria Angela Falà, president of the Maitreya Foundation, emphasized the power of film to connect audiences with profound themes. “Cinema can make spiritual and social issues current that today seem distant, but which actually touch the heart of the human condition,” she stated. Falà further explained that Buddhism offers a valuable framework for rethinking relationships and navigating the complexities of modern life, a message powerfully conveyed through the films selected for this year’s festival. The program, she concluded, traverses “a path that crosses poetry, pain, joy and utopia,” reflecting a vision of a better future first imagined by the Beat Generation and now resonating amidst contemporary societal challenges.
