A personal message from 'Dalai Lama Awakening' and Wakan Films Producer-Director Khashyar Darvich about how our films are reaching out into the world and inspiring audiences with the intention of service to Humanity and the Greatest Good.

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Wakan Films MAJOR Update - 7 New Transformational Films including: Prison Meditation Film, Deaf Sri Lankan Teen Dancers, New Dalai Lama Films and the Matrix of Compassion

Our dedicated team is working hard to create and share more inspiring films with you in 2014 and 2015.

June 2, 201

In this Newsletter:

(click on link below to go article)

1) Message from Director Khashyar Darvich: It's been a busy, busy year of inspiring films

2) New Dalai Lama Compassion in Action Film: Open your Heart, Be the Change, Change the World. The Final Film in the Dalai Lama Renaissance Trilogy to Complete the Epic Journey

3) Dalai Lama Renaissance: Now in Beautiful 1080 HD and Digital Download for the First Time

4) 7 New Transformational Documentary Films: Brief Summaries of each Film + Trailers

A Message from Film Director Khashyar Darvich:

Hi [Frst Name],

I hope that you are well, and that this year so far has been a fulfilling and rewarding journey for you.

This past year has been a very busy for me and the rest of our team at Wakan Films.

Sometimes we have wondered how it's possible, but we have been simultaneously working on 7 new documentary films with inspiring and transformational stories and subjects.

As I often mention during Q&As with audiences, I feel deeply that my calling is to create and share films that have the intention of inspiring audiences and serving the Greatest Good. It is a passionate focus of mine.

You can read a summary and more details about each of the seven film project further down this email, but briefly, here are the documentary films that our team and I are working on:

1) Silence of Happiness (a film about deaf teenage dancers in Sri Lanka who overcome despair and poverty through learning traditional Sri Lankan dance and sign language... You can watch the trailer further down this email)

2) Compassion in Action (featuring H.H. the Dalai Lama... This is the last film of the Dalai Lama Renaissance Trilogy which completes the illuminating experience of the renaissance thinkers who traveled to India to meet the Dalai Lama to create positive change in the world.) It is available Now for download and DVD: http://dalailamafilm.com/shop

3) Forgiving Buddha (We received special access to film inside an American prison. Men who have committed murder and other crimes experience transformation through meditation and deep self-honesty and discovery. This was a life changing experience for me and my crew, and I very much look forward to sharing the story with audiences.)

4) Road to Happiness (an inspiring and quirky film about a woman named Peace Pilgrim who walked over 25,000 miles for peace beginning in 1953 for inner and outer peace, and 3 characters who were inspired by her to "walk" in their own way for peace.)

5) Matrix of Compassion (an epic spiritual journey into the slums of India to find happiness and the meaning of life. The story spans over 45 years, and we have filmed over 500 hours for this film. Editing has begun and the film should be completed later this year)

6) Loving Charlotte (Shot over a 75 year period, this documentary film includes rare color home movies from 1939 through 2012. This documentary film is about a woman who overcomes unthinkable abuse and suffering by embodying kindness, compassion and forgiveness).

7) Dalai Lama Awakening (This is a Poetic ReVision and Director's Cut of the award-winning Dalai Lama Renaissance film, with a brand new edit, 40 minutes of new previously unseen footage, and a brand new music score. We just returned from a successful 36-city tour of the film, and are currently scheduling a US-Canada and Australian tour for later this year.)

And perhaps 7.5 :) Dalai Lama Renaissance 1080 HD (For the very first time, the award-winning Dalai Lama Renaissance Documentary Film is available in beautiful 1080 HD for Digital Download. The original film was mastered on HD, and transferred to 35mm film for cinemas, but was only previously available in standard definition DVD. You can see it as it was meant to be seen, here:
http://dalailamafilm.com/shop

This year (2014) we have already finished Compassion in Action and Dalai Lama Awakening, and we are on schedule to finish Road to Happiness and Matrix of Compassion later this year. We expect to finish the remaining films in 2015.

This will be a busy year involving all 7 films. I will keep you updated so that you can know when these films screen in your area.

If you would like to see photos, videos and receive the latest information and updates, the quickest way is to "Like" the official Wakan Films' Facebook page, here:

And lastly, I want to share a quote from an audience member during one of the April 2014 screenings of our new Dalai Lama Awakening film during the 36-city UK-Ireland tour. It feels very fulfilling and satisfying to receive comments like these, and it affirms for us that we are fulfilling our vision and purpose in making these films:

"Humbling, Motivating and Passionate - Thank you for bringing this to us so far North in Scotland for just one night. I leave with a full heart knowing what I am to do on my next step in my 'long term plan'. Truly a transformational personal journey for me by watching this film. Thank you for making it and personally showing it around the world. Making a difference - peace and action in motion"
- Jason S., Aberdeen, Scotland

And one more:

"I was so moved by this film. Now I know what my TED Talk is. This experience opened up possibilities for myself and others."
- Margaret-Jane H., Cambridge, England

Thank you again for all of your support and interest in our films, which again, have the intention of impacting audiences in a positive way and serving the Greatest Good.

If you could do me a favor please, so that more people will be able to see our films. If you can, please forward and share this email with your friends and family.

I hope to meet and speak with you in person one day soon.

Peace and Blessings,

Khashyar Darvich
Producer-Director
Wakan Films
Official Page: www.Wakan.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WakanFilms

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NEW Compassion in Action Film: The Final Inspiring Satisfying Journey that Completes the Dalai Lama Renaissance Film Trilogy: Now Available on DVD and Digital Download

Part 3 of the Dalai Lama Renaissance Film Trilogy Completes the Journey with Inspiring Ideas for How to Transform the World.

Open your Heart, Be the Change, Change the World.

Compassion in Action features His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Jean Houston, Fred Alan Wolf, Elisabet Sahtouris, Thom Hartmann, David Korten, Wayne Teasdale, John Mack and other inspiring thinkers.

The NEW Compassion and Action Documentary Film is available now on DVD and Digital Download: http://dalailamafilm.com/shop

Dalai Lama Renaissance, the first documentary film in the Trilogy, took the audience on an inner journey of personal transformation.

Dalai Lama Renaissance Vol 2: A Revolution of Ideas, provided intimate insights into how the Dalai Lama thinks and approaches solving some of the most difficult problems in our world today.

Compassion in Action completes the Trilogy and the journey as the innovative renaissance thinkers share the inspiring and compelling insights they learned from the Dalai Lama about how to transform the world.

You may watch the Film Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6UDmLbRSnw

Summary of Compassion in Action:

Open your heart, be the change, and change the world. A new film from the Director of the award-winning Dalai Lama Renaissance (narrated by Harrison Ford). Illuminating insights about the essential problems of our world today and how we might solve them, featuring the Dalai Lama and other revolutionary thinkers like Fred Alan Wolf, Jean Houston, Elisabet Sahtouris, Thom Hartmann, David Korten and others.

What truly brings us happiness? What are the essential problems facing our world today, and how can we solve them? What is at the heart and soul of the cultural “Hungry Ghosts” that seek happiness and fulfillment through money and things, instead of from within? In this inspiring and thought-provoking film, Compassion in Action: Dalai Lama Awakening Vol 2, the Dalai Lama and some of the most innovative and revolutionary thinkers of our time explore the sources of unhappiness and happiness in our world. This film is a deeper exploration of the ideas presented in the internationally successful documentary film Dalai Lama Awakening (narrated by actor Harrison Ford), directed by award-winning Producer-Director Khashyar Darvich.

Watch Compassion in Action Now: http://dalailamafilm.com/shop

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Now in HD: Award-winning Dalai Lama Renaissance Film (Narrated by Harrison Ford) Available in Stunning 1080 HD and Digital Download for the First Time

For the very first time, see the award-winning Dalai Lama Renaissance in the way it was meant to be seen: in beautiful stunning 1080 HD.

Dalai Lama Renaissance was originally mastered in full HD, and then transferred to 35mm film for distribution in cinemas, but was only previously available for home use in standard definition DVD. Now, experience the award-winning Renaissance in full beautiful 1080 HD.

For the very first time, the award-winning Dalai Lama Renaissance Documentary Film (narrated by Harrison Ford) is now available for Digital Download in Stunning 1080 HD: http://dalailamafilm.com/shop

Dalai Lama Renaissance won 12 awards, was the official selection of over 40 film festivals, and has screened over 1,000 times around the world.

Featuring the Dalai Lama, and narrated by actor Harrison Ford, the film tells the story of 40 Western innovative thinkers who travel to the Himalayan Mountains of India to meet with the Dalai Lama to solve many of the world’s problems. What happened was powerful and unexpected, and was captured by a five camera, 18 person crew.

The film features two of the starring quantum physicists from the hit theatrical documentary What the Bleep Do We Know, Fred Alan Wolf and Amit Goswami. Also appearing in Dalai Lama Renaissance are Michael Beckwith (who appears in The Secret), radio host and author Thom Hartmann, revolutionary social scientist Jean Houston, Futurist and Evolution Biologist Elisabet Sahtouris, Vandana Shiva (social activist, The Corporation) and other prominent thinkers.

Amy Wong of LA Yoga Magazine writes: "it is a stunning tour-de-force [and an] intimate glimpse into the Dalai Lama's life."

Film Critic John Griffin of the Montreal Gazette calls Dalai Lama Renaissance "a provocative, even enlightening film... fascinating, ravishingly beautiful and sonically soothing."

Film Threat Magazine’s Rick Kisonak said Dalai Lama Renaissance is a “comedy sensation,” adding, “I can’t remember the last time a movie made me laugh so hard.”

You may watch the movie trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ1L2uopTwU

The new 1080 HD version of the film may be downloaded here: http://dalailamafilm.com/shop

"I narrated Dalai Lama Renaissance,” says actor Harrison Ford, “because I believe His Holiness is making a positive influence in our world. For me, the film represented an opportunity to continue assisting the optimistic efforts of an extraordinary individual.”

After one of Director Khashyar Darvich’s interviews with the Dalai Lama, the Dalai Lama affirmed Darvich’s and Wakan Films’ motivations in producing films: “Yes I like your questions,” the Dalai Lama told Darvich, as the two were standing together talking after the interview. “Certainly, your effort can make some contribution—there’s no doubt.”

Audiences around the world have shared that the film screening and Q&A by Director Khashyar Darvich is more like a transformational event than just a film screening.

Dalai Lama Renaissance screened in over 40 cities in the UK-Ireland, 20 cities in Australia, over 100 cities in the United States and Canada, and in several other countries in over a dozen languages.

“Be prepared to leave the Dalai Lama Renaissance event a different person than when you first arrived,” commented Debbie from a screening during the film's Australian's tour. “I was thoroughly inspired by both the film and Khashyar Darvich's Q&A.”

Harrison Ford
and Khashyar
Darvich

As inspired as audiences have been around the world from the film, the film and filmmaker also received the attention and disdain of the Chinese Government.

After Dalai Lama Renaissance was released in theaters in Taiwan, it received overwhelming positive response from Taiwanese audiences and press:

Taiwan’s best-selling weekly newspaper, E Weekly, gave the film a rating of 82, which is one of the highest ratings that a film has received in the past year in Taiwan.

In Pots, a major Taiwanese newspaper, the film was described as “an inspiring documentary which depicts the Dalai Lama’s philosophy of peace.. [the film is] is full of meaning.”

The “film rapidly grabs hold of you… insightful documentary,” wrote the Taipei Times.

The Taiwanese Liberty Times wrote that in the film, “Dalai Lama thinks that humanity is the most important thing in the world and economic sanctions might affect many Chinese citizens, thus he is hesitant if such an approach is right.”

But the Chinese Government, perhaps feeling threatened by the reach of the film in the Chinese language into mainland China, criticized both the film and filmmaker:

In an article in the People's Daily, a daily newspaper and media arm of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Dalai Lama Renaissance was sharply criticized: “the part of the movie related to the peaceful liberation of Tibet was filled with political bias, reflecting the director’s ignorance and misunderstanding of Tibet’s history… The movie transforms the Dalai Lama into an omniscient sage, reflecting a ‘misunderstanding’ of the Dalai Lama's image in the West... In fact, what these movies depict is just the ‘anesthesia’ given by the Dalai Lama to the West.”

“My hope,” says Director Khashyar Darvich, “is that Dalai Lama Renaissance will open a dialog between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama, and that the average Chinese citizen will be able to see that the Dalai Lama is not such a bad guy and is interested in a solution to the Tibet issue that serves the highest good and benefits both the Chinese and Tibetans. I would be happy to attend a screening of the film in China and conduct a Q&A with Chinese audiences as a way to contribute to positive dialog.”

And Darvich is very clear about the intention and vision of both Dalai Lama Renaissance as well as the seven other documentary films that he and his Wakan Films team in their Los Angeles office will be releasing in 2014 and 2015.

"The intention of Dalai Lama Renaissance and all of our films, says Darvich, "is to inspire audiences and serve the Greatest Good."

In that spirit, Darvich re-edited an extended "Poetic ReVision" and Director's Cut of the film, entitled Dalai Lama Awakening, which recently toured in over 35 cities in the UK-Ireland, and will be touring the U.S., Canada and Australia in the second half of this year.

Some of Darvich's and Wakan Films' other transformational films include a documentary about deaf teenage dancers in Sri Lanka entitled The Silence of Happiness, an epic journey into the slums of India to discover the meaning of life (The Matrix of Compassion), and Forgiving Buddha, a film about spiritual transformation inside an American prison. More information about these and other films, including their trailers, can be found on the Wakan Films website: www.wakan.com

Dalai Lama Renaissance is now a trilogy of films, with the second and third films offering a complete complementary experience of the insights of the Dalai Lama and the inspiring thinkers who met with him to discuss how to change the world.

Also available on Digitial Download or DVD are part 2 and 3 in the Dalai Lama Renaissance Trilogy: Dalai Lama Renaissance Vol 2: A Revolution of Ideas and Compassion in Action, both of which are available on the www.DalaiLamaFilm.com website.

Part of what makes Dalai Lama Renaissance extraordinary is the beautiful epic music that was created for the film. The Film's Music Director and Composer Michel Tyabji assembled a World-class music soundtrack for the film, including traditional Tibetan music from one of the top Tibetan musicians in the West, "Techung" (Tashi Dhondup Sharzur), original sitar music performed by one of the master sitar players in the world, Roop Verma (who is a protégé of legendary Indian musicians Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan), and music from Composer Henry "Medicine Bear" Reid, who has contributed to the Grammy-Award-Winning group “Manheim Steamroller."

You may listen to and purchase the soundtrack CD for Dalai Lama Renaissance, here: http://dalailamacd.com/

The color of the HD release is stunning due to the expert color correction and graphics of Eric Babinec from Colortime Pictures: http://www.colortimepictures.com/

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7 New Transformation Documentary Films to be Released in 2014 and 2015

Wakan Films will be releasing seven new documentary films, with inspiring and transformational stories and characters, in 2014 and 2015

Compassion in Action and Dalai Lama Awakening have already been released this year, and Matrix of Compassion and Road to Happiness are being edited now and will be released later in 2014

When some filmmakers say that they have "several films in various stages of development," they might mean that they have 7 ideas for films that they want to make and are pitching to funders.

But in our case, we actually do have seven films that are either being filmed or being edited. :)

It has taken a lot of creative perspiration and reflection, long hours in the Wakan Films office, and the contributions of many inspired and dedicated Wakan Films Team Members, but the inspiring documentary films below will be shared with the world in 2014 and 2015:

1) Silence of Happiness

Filming has begun on this new inspiring documentary film by Wakan Films, set in the beautiful country of Sri Lanka, centered around the lives of deaf children who are rescued from their lives of isolation and despair in rural Sri Lanka where education for the hearing impaired is poor.

These children are brought to a village school for the deaf where they are taught sign language so they can begin to communicate their thoughts and feelings with the world, an inner world that has been hidden and silent for years. Even though they cannot hear the music, they are taught beautiful intricate traditional Sri Lankan dance which helps them express themselves in ways that they previously could not have imagined, which further heals their traumatic experiences of surviving the devastating Tsumani, the Sri Lankan Civil War, homelessness and neglect and abuse.

We have already completed two filming trips to Sri Lanka, and a third filming trip to Sri Lanka is being planned for the second half of 2014.

These children and their stories will change your life (as they have ours).

Film Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/silenceofhappiness

Silence of Happiness film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lI6kxjR3L4

2) Dalai Lama Awakening

Director Khashyar Darvich just returned from a successful 36-city tour of the UK-Ireland with Dalai Lama Awakening, and we are planning film and Director Q&A Tours of the U.S., Canada and Australia during the second half of 2014.

Dalai Lama Awakening, which was a 15 year realization of a cinematic dream, presents the profound and life-changing journey of innovative Western thinkers who travel to India to meet with the Dalai Lama to solve many of the world's problems. The result was an inner transformation of the participants, as well as what audiences report is a personal transformational experience for those who watch the film. The new film was born from over 500 hours of video footage that was shot by 10 cinematographers over a 15 year period, and is a dramatically new "Poetic ReVision" and Director's Cut of his award-winning Dalai Lama Renaissance which won 12 awards and screened over 1,000 times around the world.

In a "5 Star" Review, Examiner.com calls Dalai Lama Awakening "a beautiful and thought-provoking film... [Director] Darvich's compassion and humanity is apparent... Note [the premiere] date because you will want to mark it on your calendar."

"Visually compelling, inspiring and thought-provoking,” writes Tom Richards of 'Surviving Ireland.' “Darvich has put together a compelling, slow-burning documentary."

Dalai Lama Awakening is a uniquely different cinematic experience that will take you more deeply into the heart of the transformational journey with the Dalai Lama. This differs from the first theatrical release in that there are 40 additional minutes of scenes and story, a completely new edit by the Director which brings a different cinematic experience, and a 100% newly composed music soundtrack.

If you or someone you know might be interested in hosting a film screening and Director Q&A, please contact us since we are planning the 2014 tour scheduled now.

Film Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/DalaiLamaAwakening

Dalai Lama Awakening Film Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgiNutr0pig

3) Compassion in Action (featuring H.H. the Dalai Lama)

Open your heart, be the change, and change the world.

A new film from the Director of the award-winning Dalai Lama Renaissance (narrated by Harrison Ford). Illuminating insights about the essential problems of our world today and how we might solve them, featuring the Dalai Lama and other revolutionary thinkers like Fred Alan Wolf, Jean Houston, Elisabet Sahtouris, Thom Hartmann, David Korten and others.

What truly brings us happiness? What are the essential problems facing our world today, and how can we solve them? What is at the heart and soul of the cultural “Hungry Ghosts” that seek happiness and fulfillment through money and things, instead of from within? In this inspiring and thought-provoking film, Compassion in Action: Dalai Lama Awakening Vol 2, the Dalai Lama and some of the most innovative and revolutionary thinkers of our time explore the sources of unhappiness and happiness in our world. This film is a deeper exploration of the ideas presented in the internationally successful documentary film Dalai Lama Awakening (narrated by actor Harrison Ford), directed by award-winning Producer-Director Khashyar Darvich.

Watch Compassion in Action Now: http://dalailamafilm.com/shop

Film Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CompassionInActionFilm

Film Trailer for Compassion in Action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6UDmLbRSnw

4) Forgiving Buddha

Can men who have killed become Buddha?

Forgiving Buddha is "an illuminating journey into the fire of the self to free the mind." It is the story of 5 men, most of whom have been convicted of murder, and how they try to redeem and transform themselves after 25 years in prison through adopting a spiritual practice of meditation and yoga, as well as self honesty and deep reflection of their crimes.

Wakan Films was granted near full access to film inside an Oregon prison for a period of two years, and also plan on interviewing the victims and victims families of these crimes. The film will explore the capacity for inner change, forgiveness and compassion.

We have filmed over 100 hours of footage, and more filming is being scheduled to illustrate the characters' powerful stories.

5) Loving Charlotte

Loving Charlotte is an extraordinary feature documentary film that was filmed over a period of 70 years, incorporating hours of rare color home movie footage and video shot from 1939 through 2012, as well as thousands of photographs, color slides and powerful letters. It chronicles the life of “Charlotte,” and American woman born in Los Angeles during the Second World War, and her triumphant overcoming of unimaginable abuse through kindness, love and forgiveness.

Loving Charlotte will be released in 2015.

6) Road to Happiness

A inspiring and life-affirming documentary film about an American woman named "Peace Pilgrim" and the unique, sometimes quirky but visionary people who were inspired by here.

Peace Pilgrim, beginning in 1953, walked over 25,000 miles across America for peace, walking for both inner and outer peace, and captivating and speaking to thousands of audience members during every step of her journey. Her message was "This is the way of peace: Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love."

The film will feature historic and powerful interviews with Peace Pilgrim, poet Maya Angelou, the Dalai Lama and others, as well as old newsreel footage from all of the decades when she walked.

Editing is nearly finished on the Peace Pilgrim film, and it will released during the second half of 2014.

Film Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PeacePilgrimFilm

7) Matrix of Compassion

Featuring His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, H.H. The 17th Karmapa, Buddhist nun Tenzin Palmo, and interviews with other influential spiritual thinkers of our time, the Matrix of Compassion takes us on an inner journey of personal transformation, as well as an epic cinematic journey through India and the West to understand our purpose in life and what brings each one of us true, deep and lasting happiness.

Edited from among 500 of hours of filmed video, this is an epic journey leads us to the intimate lives of a family inside of an Indian slum, to exploring the issue of forgiveness by a Tibetan monk who was tortured by the Chinese Government.

Editing has begun, and the film is scheduled to be completed during the end of 2014.

Film Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/matrixofcompassion

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