Geshe Wangyal: with blessing of the Three Jewels | Tibet House Movie Night

Director, scriptwriter and producer Ella was born in the Russian republic of Kalmykia in 1981. In 2008, she graduated from the Higher Courses of Scriptwriters and Directors (Moscow). Her feature debut, The Gulls, had a premiere at Berlinale IFF (Forum) in 2015. The same year it won the Best Debut Award at Open Russian FF “Kinotavr”main Russian FF and many prizes from all over the world. The film has been screened in 28 countries and on all continents. Ella Manzheeva is the first Kalmyk film director. Her film “The Gulls” opened up new territory on the map of world cinematography. In 2014, she established the National Heritage Foundation « Bumba.» For six years, she has annually held film schools for children and adults, master classes, industry events, film screenings, about Twenty short films were shot as part of these projects. Also, she opened cinemas in 4 villages of Kalmykia, which served as the basis for developing the film industry in her homeland. In 2018, she began work on the film “Geshe Wangyal. With Blessing of the Three Jewels”. This is a dramatic story about the incredible earthly and spiritual journey of a Buddhist monk from Russia who became one of the first preachers of Tibet Buddhism in the United States. He was a friend of the His Holiness the Dalai Lama 14, taught at Columbia University, dedicated his life to putting the Buddha’s teachings into practice, and trained many talented students, increasing interest in Buddhism in the West. Her second feature film, «White Road», was selected for the Berlinale. Residency in 2015. In 2021 «White Road» project became one of fifteen projects selected for Cinéfondation L’Atelier of Cannes Film Festival. In 2022 «White Road» got the «This Is NOW Laser Film Award» When East Meets West (WEMW). Now in the post-production stage. FILMOGRAPHY: 2007 «Prazdnik» documentary short 2008 «Uninvited. Steppe» fiction short 2009 «Within her, there’s a steppe» experimental short 2015 «The Gulls» – debut film 2022 «Geshe Wangyal. With Blessing of the Three Jewels» documentary 2022 «White Road.»