Joanna Lumley launches Tibet Film Festival in UKFriday, 6 March 2009, 8:42 a.m.

“Tibet Film Festival 2009 – Images and Reflections on Tibet” is being jointly presented by Tibet House Trust & Through an Exile Lens Project.

The Absolutely Fabulous star said she hoped the film festival would “help keep Tibet in the front of people’s minds”.She added that she hoped the festival would remind the world of pledges of action made prior to last year’s Olympic Games in China.”We made all these what seem to be now hollow insistences before the Games were to take place in Beijing that we wanted to see improvement in human rights. There was no improvement but we still went.”She said “the world rose up” and demanded a peaceful solution was found, but added: “This has not happened and the focus had drifted off Tibet.

Joanna Lumley has launched the Tibet Film Festival

“I wish our country was doing something. We have so many Tibet supporters here and within the House of Commons and the House of Lords, but somehow once we get to senior administration it’s back to nothing at all and appeasement of the Chinese.”The 2009 festival marks 50 years of exile of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan refugees.In his message to Thursday’s film festival launch in London, he said: “Film is a highly effective means of providing information and education.”It is my sincere hope that the films on show at this festival will enable viewers to broaden their understanding and appreciation of Tibetan culture and the problems currently facing the Tibetan people, and that such an understanding may yet grow into support for our just cause.”(Click here for screening dates and venues)–Press AssociationRelated report:“Tibet Film Festival 2009” to Kick-off on 4 March in London