His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s message for Cinema for Peace anniversary[Wednesday, 16 February 2011, 10:00 a.m.]
 |
|
This file picture of 10 February 2009 shows Holiness the Dalai Lama (C) receiving the German media prize from Mr Karlheinz Koegel, the chief of Media Control (L), as Mr. Roland Koch, the prime minister of the German state of Hesse (R) applauds the honour, at a ceremony in Baden-Baden, Germany
|
BERLIN: The Cinema for Peace Gala 2011 took place at Berlin’s historic Konzerthaus on 14 February 2011. For its 10th anniversary celebration, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was the Patron of the Cinema for Peace Gala 2011. Mr
Jaka Bizilj, founder and chairman Cinema for Peace Foundation in his
address said, “I want to thank our Patron of today’s Cinema for Peace
Gala, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He is not with us but he has sent a
letter.” His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s message said, “I
congratulate Cinema for Peace for its ten years of dedicated service in
utilizing the powerful film media to raise public awareness of social
problems. Film and arts greatly impact our world and our view of the
world. They have the responsibility as well as the opportunity to
contribute in changing the world for the better.” The message
further emphasised, “I have maintained that the news media personal
should be like elephants with long trunks, with which they can smell
politicians, businesspeople and other personalities equally well from
the front and behind. When they catch wind of something, then they must
report on it honestly and objectively.” Finally, His Holiness
expressed his appreciation to the Cinema for Peace for its strong
support for the Tibetan case, which he said is also support for justice
in the world. During His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s last visit
to Berlin in May 2008, the Tibet Initiative Deutschland, the oldest
Tibet Support Group in Germany organised a solidarity rally for Tibet
in front at the Brandenburger gate on 19 May 2009. His Holiness the
Dalai Lama spoke at the rally – over 25,000 people were present. The
Cinema for Peace’s Committee member actress Katja Riemann took part at
that rally with other celebrities and political representatives for
supporting free press and human rights in Tibet and standing up for
solidarity with the Tibetans peoples. During its 2011 gala, it
presented an award to Ngawang Choephel’s film “Tibet in Song”. Since
2002 the Cinema for Peace has been a worldwide initiative, promoting
humanity through film while inviting members of the international film
community to attend the annual Cinema for Peace Award-Gala-Night during
the Berlin International Film Festival.
