Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 22: ‘Wisdom of Happiness’, a documentary featuring His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his teachings on inner peace and compassion, will screen coast-to-coast in the United States on October 16 in what is being described as a unique “experiential event”.
The documentary film, directed by Barbara Miller and Philip Delaquis, offers an intimate, meditative portrait of the Tibetan spiritual leader, who speaks directly to the camera about humanity’s greatest challenges in the 21st century and the small steps each person can take toward cultivating wisdom and compassion.
The world premiere of the film took place at the Zurich Film Festival in October 2024, and the film has since screened across Europe and in Dharamshala, India. The documentary has also qualified for the 2025 Academy Awards, commonly known as Oscars award.
Executive producer of the documentary and Hollywood actor Richard Gere, a long-time friend of the Dalai Lama, will introduce the October 16 screening at AMC Lincoln Square 13 in Manhattan according to a report by Deadline.
He will also join a live panel discussion following the screening, which will be transmitted to theatres nationwide through the Digital Cinema Distribution Coalition, giving audiences across North America a chance to share in the collective experience. Several additional guests will be announced for the discussion. Theatre listings for the event will be announced on October 6.
“Wisdom of Happiness offers audiences something increasingly rare in our fractured world, an opportunity to sit with profound wisdom and authentic compassion,” Gere said in a statement. “Barbara and Philip have created a film that not only documents the Dalai Lama’s perspective on urgent global issues but inspires viewers to discover their own transformative capacity for wisdom and happiness.”
Abramorama CEO Karol Martesko-Fenster said the film’s release could not be more timely: “His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s message of compassion and inner peace has never been more relevant. We’re thrilled to bring this extraordinary documentary to theatres across North America, and we know the special October 16 screening event with Richard Gere will create a truly communal experience that captures the film’s spirit of shared wisdom.”
Following the one-night live event, Abramorama, in partnership with Theorem Media, will release the film theatrically across North America beginning October 17 at New York’s QUAD Cinema.
Cinematography for “Wisdom of Happiness” by long-time Dalai Lama documentarian, Swiss photographer Manuel Bauer. The music is composed by Ariel Marx, with editing by Isai Oswald and Mike Selemon. The release also coincides with the Year of Compassion, a global celebration of the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday.
