Tibet House Movie Nights presents TENZIN, the first Tibetan-language feature dramatic film to come out of Canada set in Toronto’s Parkdale neighborhood. The film is directed by Michael LeBlanc and Joshua Reichmann and stars Tenzin Kelsang as “Tenzin”, a young Tibetan Canadian who is struggling to come to terms with the death of his older brother by self-immolation. Chemi Lhamo, and Toronto’s Salden Kunga, Yeshi Tenzin, Tenzin Choekyi and Sangyal Kyab also round out the film’s cast.
From the filmmakers on directing TENZIN:
“We decided to approach making this film by inviting the direct voice of the Tibetan community of artists and activists, to generate and collaborate with us… many of whom ended up acting in our film. Our Tibetan collaborators quickly became energized to help us incorporate their stories and principles in order to help communicate the more significant challenges of exile, and expose the on-going occupation of Tibet. TENZIN is a vehicle for expressing the rage, sadness, dignity, and suffering of the Tibetan diaspora on behalf of those in occupied Tibet. Telling this story brought us into homes, temples, and spiritual dimensions. Filmmaking meant becoming students and friends on a much broader journey. TENZIN has always been unabashedly political, and our goal and faith is that it speaks across generations as well as borders, to something more than human and yet very precious – the value of life.“
The film was produced with participation from Toronto’s Tibetan Canadian Cultural Center and Students for Free Tibet, and a portion of the film’s proceeds will be going to the TCCC.
Michael LeBlanc is a director, cinematographer, and musician from Moncton, New Brunswick. He began directing as a part of the highly regarded music video director duo LeBlanc + Cudmore, creating videos for bands such as Spoon, Belle and Sebastian, Alt-J, Timber Timbre, The New Pornographers, METZ, and they received the inaugural Prism Prize Arthur Lipsett Award. Michael was twice nominated for the UK Music Video Awards and won a Camera Image D&AD Yellow Pencil Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography. His video for Fucked Up’s “QUEEN OF HEARTS” was included in TIFF’s 150 Essential Works in Canadian Cinema History. His work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, The Globe & Mail, VICE, Interview Magazine, SPIN, and elsewhere, earning spots on numerous global best music video lists. Independently, LeBlanc received a 2016 UK music video award for Holy Fuck’s “Tom Tom,” which he shot, directed, and produced in Romania.
Joshua Reichmann is a highly accomplished and versatile multidisciplinary artist. He is celebrated globally as a musician and performer with an impressive discography. In his career as a feature film director and writer, he creates compelling narratives that explore the realms of the absurd, phantasmagorical, and numinous. As an author, his investigations are exemplified in his upcoming dharma-centric book, “The Realized Light of The 12 Dimensions” (2024), to be published by Inner Traditions/Sacred Planet, introducing visionary metaphysics, Gnostic and Dharma teachings. Additionally, Joshua’s path as an ordained Nyagkpa (Yogi) and esteemed contemplative helper enables him to provide transformative experiences that facilitate growth and evolution for his clients and the Sangha. Above all, he holds the role of a devoted father closest to his heart.