Exiled Tibetan filming "Voices in Exile"

Cameras for Cultures and The Tibetan Photo Project offers the first collection of photos taken by Tibetans living in exile, images of the Dalai Lama, informational texts and rare 1932 pictures of Tibet.

These images of life in exile in India are creating a voice through media coverage and two exhibits of the Tibetan Photo Project.

Proudly announcing: Production begins on the first movie (July 2004)

After four years of the evolution of the effort of The Tibetan Photo Project to give Tibetans in exile a new voice and a vehicle to tell their story through their photos, Cameras for Culture and The Tibetan Photo Project are proud to announce the start of production of the first documentary film to be directed, photographed and edited by Tenzin Wangden Andrugstang in Dharamsala, India.

Almost since the beginning in 2000, Wangden has provided the project with exceptional images of life in exile, beautiful and touching portraits and a photo essay on a Tibetan pilgrimage to Bodha Gaya.

Wangden is a second-generation Tibetan living in exile and his resume as a teacher, activist and secretary in the Office of The Dalai Lama gives him both insight and access to the vast array of Tibetan life as it exists in exile.

Wangden’s work for the project started with a few disposable cameras that were donated to The Tibetan Photo Project by Kodak CEO Daniel Carp. On his own, he advanced his equipment and shooting.

Besides contributing to The Tibetan Photo Project, Wangden has produced his own Website http://www.angelfire.com/dragon2/4river6ranges/homepage.html which tells the long out of print story "Four Rivers Six Ranges" which chronicles legendary Tibetan freedom fighter Dzasak Lithangpa Andrug Gonpo Tashi.

While this will be Wangden’s first documentary film effort of sound and motion, his instinctive photographic talent consistently reflects his heart and passion through which he is able to live, see and send back to relate the full experience of life in exile.

As production begins, the working title for Wangden’s film will be “Voices From Exile.” Like The Tibetan Photo Project itself, the goal is to produce this from the Tibetan people.

Camera For Cultures and The Tibetan Photo Project co-founder Joe Mickey will act as the producer to finance the project but notes, “Like the Tibetan Photo Project, we know there are many beautiful and sensitive views of Tibetan life and nearly all of these have been created by the Western eye looking in on the Tibetans with preconceived notions. ‘Voices From Exile” will be Wangden’s vision andif not the original, he will be among the first to create a voice from the Tibetans in this medium. I have been a professional photographer and photo teacher for 30 years, so when Wangden asks, I will offer only technical advice.”

We will keep you updated on the progress. The final cut of this film will be available on DVD and VHS with a projected release date no later than July 2005.

Individuals, critics and distributors interested in the obtaining a copies should contact Mickey through The Tibetan Photo Project on the Web at http://www.tibetanphotoproject.com or by email at tibetanphotoproject [at] hotmail.com