NewzVille Desk
International Buddhist confederation (IBC) organized the first edition of two-day ‘Bodhipath Film Festival’ in New Delhi on 10-11 March 2025. The festival also included four panel discussions involving personalities from varying backgrounds-from academicians to film producers and Directors to social media influencers and actors.
The Director General of IBC, Abhijit Halder explained the concept of the festival and the range of films that were screened. These included a collection of classical films for the younger generation to catch up on and some from modern directors of India. To name a few The Cup, Geshe Ma is Born, the Kung Fu Nuns, Path of Compassion, Guru Padmasambhava.
He mentioned that the legendary film on His Holiness the Dalai Lama, ‘Until Space Remains’ was also screened as this year commemorates the landmark birthday of His Holiness.
Speaking at the inauguration Ven Geshe Dorji Damdul, Director of Tibet House said that visual art had always been a channel for education and information to the masses.
Ven Geshe Damdul mentioned that during the Buddha’s times, paintings were commissioned by Sakyamuni that showed his teachings and educated the public. The five senses in a person play an important role in absorbing the message. He further said that if the visuals are of ‘low level’, the society will be absorbing these, and therefore, we see a lot of crime, including cyber-crime prevalent these days. Similarly, conflicts, wars, climate disaster and mistrust will be the order of the day, he noted.
Professor Robert A.F. Thurman, an American Buddhist author and academic who is on a brief visit to Delhi, took time off to participate in the festival.
The world-renowned film personality from Hollywood and a practicing Buddhist, Richard Gere, who was also just passing through Delhi, recorded a message for the festival. He expressed that the Buddhist Film Festival was the best way to spread the teachings of the Buddha. He said that the festival provided “An exciting moment. It is a great opportunity to follow the path to Buddhism.”
The Guest of Honour, Chittaranjan Tripathy, Director, National School of Drama informed that in India the tradition of Natya Shastra went back more than 3,000 years. Buddhism had deep connections with Natya Shastra and the story telling format.
Mohit Chauhan, the eminent playback singer, Gagan Malik, a prominent TV actor, Adil Hussain, of national and international fame for his films Life of Pi were also participated in the festival.
