Derab Films

The remarkable and inspiring story of the hardship and challenges faced by
exiled Tibetans is seldom told in such a positive and uplifting light.
Screening for the first time in the UK on Saturday 4th November at the
Kailash Centre, organised by the Tibetan Community in Britain, 'Kadrin - A
Journey to Success' portrays a real life account of the experiences of an
exiled Tibetan growing up in India.

Written and directed by an exiled Tibetan, Topgyal Tsering, the film offered
the Tibetan community of London and their supporters an opportunity to share
the experience of one Tibetan's account of living in exile. "The portrayal
of the situation seemed very real" said Ugyan Norbu, a Tibetan elder who has
been living in exile for than more 45 years. "There needs to be more films
like this that portray how Tibetans live in exile and in the west" he added.

Kadrin - A Journey to Success is based on the life story of Ngawang Samdup,
Tsering's younger brother, who made the dangerous escape from the Chinese
military in Tibet as a young boy. Like so many Tibetans living in exile the
film follows the journey from Tibet to the refugee centre in Nepal, and then
to northern India where many young Tibetans are educated and cared for under
the guidance of their exiled spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Tsering shows the challenges Tibetans in exile face; from childhood, through
adolescence and into adulthood. Often orphaned from their parents and
without relatives to support them, many Tibetan children growing up in India
choose a highly dedicated and sometimes solitary path of education. On
completion of their studies many never return to Tibet and remain part of
exiled communities.

Throughout his film Tsering catches the longing desire of exiled Tibetan
children to reunite with their family members and follows the journey of one
Tibetan back to Nepal some twenty years later to meet his aging mother. "I
feel that this film plays a small role in highlighting the difficult
challenges facing Tibetans who cross the Himalayas into exile" said Samdup.

For Tibetans in exile discussing and sharing these experiences is a way of
building strength within their community as well as promoting awareness of
Tibetan issues in the west. "Tibetans have so much to say and it's good to
explore different mediums for doing so. Film can be very moving" explained
Sam Wangyal, another Tibetan filmmaker who attended the screening.

'Kadrin - A Journey to success' proved to be a successful attempt from
Tsering, a first time filmmaker who received praise for his work and
encouragement to continue producing films. "It was a worthy effort from a
first time filmmaker with a passion" said Wangyal. "I hope to see some more
from this filmmaker in the future" he added.

Every year between 2000 and 3000 Tibetans flee from Chinese occupation in
Tibet into exile to increase the opportunity for a better education or to
attend monasteries and nunneries under the blessing of His Holiness the
Dalia Lama. Topgyal Tsering's film 'Kadrin - A Journey to Success',
graciously depicts the life of an exiled Tibetan in a warm and sometimes
humorous context. Complete with romance and moving scenes Tsering manages to
capture the account of one exiled Tibetan's life in such a positive and
truthful light that it leaves the viewer informed and inspired.

The next public screening of 'Kadrin - A journey to success will be held at
the Tibet Festival in Germany from 18 -19 November 2006. For screening in
Germany, please contact Tibet Initiative Kempten e.V. (TIK), Bussardweg 21,
Kempten 87439, Germany Tel. (0049)-837-98349