World Tibet Network News Tuesday, June 2, 1998

On the 29th of May 1998 at 7 p.m. the presentation of the first ever film on Tibet "Seven Years in Tibet" in Russia was organised jointly by Tibet Culture & Information Centre, American House of Cinema and Moscow Friends of Tibet Society. The film presentation was held at one of the best cinema theatres in Moscow which is located in the Radisson Slavyanskaya Hotel, Moscow. The presentation peogramme was very well organised. About 450 people turned out at the presentation show out of which around 100 were specially invited guests including Parliament members and ex-members, journalists, Human Rights, Radical Party and other pro-Tibet groups and many friends of Tibet.

The venue was beautifully decorated with the Tibetan National flags,portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama, free Tibet banners and placards. Books and literatures on Tibet were widely distributed.

Moscow Tibetan Community (Himalaya Tibet Restaurant and Tibet Kitchen) freely served the guests with delicious Tibetan momos, khapses, specially brewed chang, champagne and fruit juices. Displayed Tibetan dolls featuring the unique and rich cultural costumes of three provinces of Tibet. Sweet and melodious songs and musics were played and created a warm Tibetan atmosphere.

Just before the film show, Secretary Tashi spoke breifly about the motive of the film and present situation of Tibet and urged the audience to support the issue of Tibet.

After watching the film hardly no one looked indifferent and were very much moved and touched by what has happened in Tibet since Chinese invasion and occupation. For many of them the film was an eye opener.

As per initial schedule the film was to show till June 5,1998. But,on June 1, 1998 the Chinese Embassy in Moscow has issued a protest note to the Russian Foreign Ministry for allowing to show the film in Russia. The Foreign Ministry has also discussed the matter with the authorities of American Cinema House. But the cinema authorities have conveyed their reluctance to discontinue the show informing that many people take interest and the daily public turn-out at the show is very good. So they have rather decided to prolong the show till June 14,1998. Moreover on Saturdays and Sundays there will be two daily shows. The show is being widely publicised through radios,news papers and film magazines. During every show the books and literatures on Tibet are being distributed at the ticket distribution counter and can always see the Tibetan National flags displaying at the enterence stairs and also on the buffet/ticket counter wall.

The Director of the American Cinema House is so sympathetic with the Tibet issue as he himself has suffered a lot during the Soviet regime and he fully shares the fellings and sufferings of the Tibetan people.

Reported by Tibet Culture & Information Centre, Moscow