International Buddhist Film Festival 2009

International Buddhist Film Festival 2009

05 May, 2009
by: Tom Jeffreys

Buddhism has always seemed one of the most fascinating belief systems. Characterised by wisdom, decency and consideration, it seems a far cry from some of the more militant religions currently sadly in vogue across the world. And yet it can come across as perhaps aloof: different, distant and distinctly other. Well this week the International Buddhist Film Festival kicks off at the Barbican and look set not so much to bring Buddhism to the masses, but to open up new angles of thought around the subject. It will perphaps show how Buddhism is not some remote creed, but a force that has already influenced us for generations.

From May 7th to 17th, the Barbican is hosting all manner of Buddhist-related films. The concept of IBFF is quite a broad one, so alongside films like The Light of Asia – the story of the life of Prince Siddhartha and how he became Buddha – are more mainstream Hollywood hits like Donnie Darko.


Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai © Artisan Entertainment 

A gala screening of The Light of Asia kicks off the whole Festival on May 7th and this looks set to be a cracking evening. On the night, this beautiful silent film is being backed by a group of musicans from Amsterdam and Mexico City, led by sitarist Sidartha Siliceo. Gaetano Kazuo Maida, executive director of IBFF said: "The Light of Asia is a classic Buddhist story, one that is sure to excite those already familiar with it - and people being introduced to it for the first time."

Other highlights of IBFF 2009 LONDON include 'Mind the Gap: Bardo and Back', a series of films playing on the Buddhist concept of bardo – the interval or gap between the end of one life and beginning of the next. This is where Donnie Darko fits in, alongside other recent cult hits Dead Man and Stay. The 'Profiles' strand of the Festival includes films about major personalities who identify with Buddhism in various ways: so there's films about, among others, Philip Glass, Meredith Monk and Leonard Cohen.


Buddha's Lost Children © EMS Films 

Also look out for screenings of titles associated with BOS – the world's only television and radio broadcaster exclusively dedicated to Buddhist content – and a selection of films by the king of Japanese puppet animation, Kihachiro Kawamoto.

All in all, the International Buddhist Film Festival looks like being one of the cultural highlights of the year – for Buddhists, film-buffs or anyone simply looking for an interesting way to spend an evening.

The International Buddhist Film Festival is at The Barbican from 7th-17th May, 2009

For more information, visit the Barbican's IBFF website
Or the Festival's official site.

Click here to see all London exhibitions.

Tom Jeffreys