Little fazes filmmaker Lara Damiani – not even being stopped and questioned by Chinese military while filming in Tibet, followed by Chinese police in Tiananmen Square, Beijing or a $50,000+ production debt.

South Australian based Lara Damiani was so inspired by the plight of Tibet and the Tibetans and a burning desire to spread the message of Tibet in the lead up to the Beijing Olympics, that she decided to make a feature length documentary about the issue in November last year. The documentary, currently in production, highlights the last remaining non-violent freedom struggle in the world today and has been self-funded to date.

“When he visited in June, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said to me at the press conference in Melbourne ‘Time is running out, that’s true. If the present situation remains another 10-15 years, I think most probably, Tibet will finish’. This documentary is my effort to spread the message that something must be done about Tibet before it’s too late” said Lara.

Invaded by China in 1950, Tibet, a peaceful Buddhist nation, is today a nation on the brink of extinction. Recently, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, was recognised for his efforts in promoting peace with the US Congressional Medal presented by George Bush. “This goes a long way in ensuring the media worldwide again focus on the very important issue of Tibet” said Lara “but it’s not enough”. “Tibet represents the struggle against power, greed, injustice and exploitation on a global level and the world can no longer afford to sit back and do nothing. If humanity strives for truth and justice then we must all support the Tibetan cause” she said.

Lara returns to India for more interviews and filming with Tibetans in exile in November and has launched a fundraising campaign through the sale of 2008 Pictures of Tibet Calendars featuring photography from Tibet by professional photographer Claudio Raschella and quotes from the Dalai Lama. On their recent trip filming in Tibet, Lara Damiani and Claudio Raschella were so moved by the children at Dickey Orphanage in Lhasa, Tibet that they vowed to raise funds to help them whey they returned to Australia. Proceeds from the calendar sales will be donated to the children at the orphanage.

The documentary will raise global awareness about issues in Tibet such as Human Rights abuses, Environmental Destruction and the destruction of Indigenous Culture and to use the spotlight on China and the Olympics in 2008 to gain maximum global exposure for Tibet. In exploring the fight against time for Tibet, it also presents the debate between the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach for Autonomy and the growing movement for Tibetan Independence. It is scheduled for release in March, 2008.

The documentary includes interview footage with the Dalai Lama when he toured Australia, supporter of Tibet and Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng, Tibetan activist and poet Tenzin Tsundue and outspoken advocate for Independence, Lhasang Tsering. Distribution plans include the avenues of DVD distribution, international film festivals and international broadcasters in 2008.

The exclusive 2008 Pictures of Tibet calendars can be purchased online at www.thetibetproject.com