Film Library

Check out our library of films that inspire, inform and entertain – all with a Buddhist theme.

“We think the Buddha would have liked movies. Since he often taught through stories and parables, he would have appreciated the powerful spiritual stories that great films tell.” — Lion’s Roar Magazine

Mission: JOY Finding Happiness in Troubled Times. Five days. Two global icons. One universal question. Through teachings, tears and teasing, experience the infectious JOY in the incredible friendship between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu as they reveal a side of themselves never seen before. Despite very difficult journeys, these men have made happiness a habit – finding joy in the of face adversity and fighting for a better world.

The Buddha’s Revolution: An FPMT Documentary tells the story of FPMT’s origins, vision, and global impact — focusing on how Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s approach made the Buddha’s teachings accessible and transformative in the modern world.

Richard Gere’s Heartfelt Reflection: Remembering Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Mystic Tibet: Follow fifty pilgrims as they travel to the roof of the world for the spiritual adventure of a lifetime. Guided by renowned Tibetan master Lama Zopa Rinpoche, this was no common tourist trek, but a rare and powerful experience in which the invisible world of great yogis and saints was magically revealed. This intense journey takes one directly into the culture of Tibet and its arresting, spiritually rich landscape in a way that is not often seen. It explores the deep inner meaning of pilgrimage, which purifies the mind and creates the good heart. These pilgrims discovered more than temples and holy mountains. They touched the extraordinary potential of their minds, their enlightened nature.

Lama Yeshe explains how he and Lama Zopa Rinpoche first began teaching Buddhism to Westerners, how to teach Dharma in the West, the form Buddhism might take in its transition from East to West, how the first centers began, what their purpose was, how life in the centers should be, how he selected the resident teachers and what their relationship with the center’s administration should be, how the different aspects of the community—ordained students, lay students and families—should interact with each other – and more.

Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel arrived at Kopan Monastery in 1973 at Lama Yeshe’s invitation—“I have some monks; can you teach them?” For nearly 40 years he served the vision of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche with tireless dedication, guiding monks, nuns, and international students. Lama Lhundrup passed away in 2011, entering clear light meditation after a lifetime of study, practice, and compassionate service.This short video was shot at the cremation day and the uncovering of his holy relics in the ashes.

Read more about Lama’s Lhundrup’s death process.

Until Space Remains: The Dalai Lama and India celebrates the remarkable relationship between India and the Tibetan people.

This 26-minute film explores the story of the Buddha, the historical relevance of pilgrimage and the significance of Bodhgaya – the place where Buddha attained Enlightenment. Includes insightful interviews with Buddhist monks and practitioners about their personal experiences with Buddhism.

Australian ex-Catholic, ex-political activist and feminist, Ven. Robina Courtin has been a Buddhist nun since 1978. Teaching Buddhism around the world, she shatters the stereotype of a Buddhist nun, her intense and direct style leaving an indelible impression on everyone she meets.

The historical BBC documentary, The Roaring Silence contains early footage of Kopan monastery and interviews with the first FPMT Western monks and nuns. In 1973 the BBC visited Nepal to film a documentary about Buddhism, which produced outstanding footage of this early era. The documentary includes a visit to Kopan Monastery not long after it was established and, while there, interviews with early Western students including Anila Ann McNeil, Marie Obst (Yeshe Khadro), Harry Luke, Nick Ribush and David (whose last name is forgotten in the mists of time). The video includes footage of Swayambhunath and Boudhanath in Kathmandu, a long trek to Tengboche and concludes with the arrival there of Trulshik Rinpoche by helicopter.

This film features stunning footage of the Himalayas featuring the world’s tallest mountains in Nepal, Pakistan, Tibet, Bhutan, & India. From the jagged peaks of Pakistan, to the mighty mountains of Nepal, the Himalayas will leave you in endless awe with their majesty. The premise of the film is similar to ‘Slow Travels’ where the viewer has time to take in the beautiful scenery to calming music. Relaxing and beautiful.

Directed by Malati Rao, this film traces the journey of Tibetan Buddhist nuns, who have, for centuries, sought equality within their ancient faith. Empowered by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, they now receive the highest monastic degree – the Geshe Ma or PhD degree. The film celebrates and documents this powerful journey.

The Last Dalai Lama? explores His Holiness’s view of Tibetan Buddhism as both a religion and a science of the mind, revealing time-tested methods for transforming destructive emotions like anger and jealousy. The film follows his collaboration with leading neuroscientists to bridge ancient wisdom and modern science—most notably through the Atlas of Emotions, a project mapping how awareness of emotional patterns can lead to inner peace. As he reflects on aging, legacy and reincarnation, the Dalai Lama’s lifelong inquiry into the nature of mind takes on poignant new depth.

The incredible footage of Out of This World taken in 1949, offers rare glimpses of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the Potala palace and the unique culture and landscape of Tibet. Journey into Tibet with Lowell Thomas and Lowell Thomas Jr. as it was in 1949 before Chinese occupation. Lowell Thomas also wrote the book called Out of This World which is still available today.

This film looks at the unique Tibetan Buddhist culture of Zanskar and how the local people are dealing with change following road construction into their once isolated valley. We end up at one of the most stunning Monasteries on the Zanskar river, Phuktal Monastary.

Karma tells the tale of a nun’s search for repayment of a debt, which will be used to pay for traditional prayers for her Abbess, who has just died. The nun fulfils a debt owed by the abbess to a young nun previously under her care, who ran away from the abbess’s harsh discipline, and was lost to an unhappy life of vice. The nun recognizes that the abbess’s true intent was to save her from the glittering yet empty world of samsara, and after learning of the tragic outcomes of women who’d run away looking for love, or an escape from their families, develops true renunciation with the determination to devote her life to Buddhist practice.

Searching for the Lotus-Born Master follows a 2018 expedition retracing the path of Padmasambhava—the Lotus-Born Master (Guru Rinpoche in Tibetan)—the eighth-century founder of Vajrayana Tibetan Buddhism. Shrouded in myth and mystery, Padmasambhava’s legacy inspired the team to travel over 20,000 kilometres through the Himalayas, scaling snow-covered passes, visiting sacred lakes, and meditating in caves where he once practiced. Along the way, they interviewed lamas, scholars, and scientists to explore whether the Master’s teachings reveal hidden connections between Vajrayana Buddhism and quantum physics. Directed by National Geographic explorer Laurence Brahm, the film continues Brahm’s award-winning Searching for Shangri-La series.

This gorgeous short film tells the story of 9 year old Urgan who lives in a village in the northern Himalayas, 3,800 meters above sea level. The Buddhist tradition wants him to leave his family to join his monastery. To do so, he will have to cross the Wori La pass, located at more than 5,000 meters above sea level. Accompanied by his cousin, he travels for several days on an initiatory path marked by funny situations, unexpected, spiritual, disturbing or fascinating encounters: a path to enlightenment.

The Drukpa Kung-Fu nuns of Nepal lead an extraordinary life as women who have chosen a monastic life. The Gyalwang Drukpa, a tireless advocate for women’s equality, has given them an unparalleled education that includes life outside the monastic protocol.