tribecafilm.com
May 3, 2009

A 30-minute film capturing the magic of the Forbidden Kingdom

Screening at the Tribeca Film Festival, May 1 & 3

Contact:  Will Parrinello Producer/Director, Mill Valley Film Group
(Telephone) 415-332-0300, (e-mail) willmvfg@gmail.com

Narrated by Richard Gere, Mustang - Journey of
Transformation, tells the remarkable story of a
Tibetan culture pulled back from the brink of
extinction through the restoration of its most sacred sites.

The Himalayan Kingdom of Mustang lies on a
windswept plateau between Nepal and Tibet in one
of the most remote regions in the world. Isolated
both by geography and politics, Mustang––known as
the Forbidden Kingdom––has been completely off
limits to westerners for 50 years. Although
Mustang is culturally and ethnically Tibetan,
politically it is part of Nepal. At a time when
Tibetan culture in Tibet is in danger of
disappearing under China’s occupation, Mustang
remains uniquely preserved. This starkly
beautiful place is home to one of the last
surviving repositories of Tibetan sacred art from
the 15th century. To travel here is to journey
into the past where one can witness the ancient ways of life.

In 1991 Nepal opened Mustang’s border to the
outside world. What the first visitors found was
shocking--the ancient monasteries were on the
verge of collapse; the Buddhist wall paintings
were disintegrating; the community was deeply
impoverished. The people needed health care,
education, and jobs. Surprisingly, the King’s
first plea to outsiders offering help was to save
the monasteries. The King understood… saving the
art would save the people, because without
cultural identity there is nothing. Mustang -
Journey of Transformation is a tale of hope and
rebirth told by the people who helped save the Forbidden Kingdom.

Mustang - Journey of Transformation features
interviews with the Dalai Lama; the Raja of
Mustang; Luigi Fieni, the chief art restorer;
world renowned architectural restoration
specialist John Sanday, and Richard Blum, founder
of the American Himalayan Foundation, the NGO
that worked with the community’s Lo Gyalpo Jigme
Foundation to restore the monasteries and bring
essential social services to the people.

The 30-minute documentary was produced and
directed by Will Parrinello of the Mill Valley
Film Group, makers of the award winning films
Emile Norman – By His Own Design, Dreaming of
Tibet, Kerouac, Little Italy, and Global Focus – The New Environmentalists.

"Mustang- Journey of Transformation" Tribeca Film Festival Screening Schedule

Sunday, May 3, 3:30 pm, TC2

Screening Venue
Tribeca Cinemas (TC)
54 Varick Street (At Laight Street, below Canal Street)
New York, NY 10013

2009 Tribeca Film Festival Box Office
Phone: (646) 502-5296
Toll free: (866) 941-FEST (3378)
web: http://www.tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets

Steve Messina, Rich Kern and the band Blow Up
Hollywood, composers of the original score for
the film "Mustang -- Journey of Transformation,"
performed music from the score at Anthology Film
Archive on Thursday, April 30th. The nine piece
band included special guest Tibetan musicians.
The performance was accompanied by stylized
images from the film, projected behind the band.

The Anthology is located at 32 Second Ave. corner
of 2nd Ave. and 2nd St., NYC. Tickets are
available at Anthology’s box office on the day of
the show only. The box office opens 30 minutes
before the first show of the day.

For more information call (212) 505-5181 or on the web at:
anthologyfilmarchives.org

Ever have a friend whose talent, adventures and
pure productivity takes your breath away? Who
always has a story that leaves you in awe? Who
inspires you to reach just a little deeper into your own creative toolbox?

We’ve known Will Parrinello for over 30 years. He
was a "radio guy"  when we were all students (we
were newspaper folk) in Chico in the 70’s. He’s
one half of Mill Valley Film Group, along with
his partner John Antonelli. Their films all have
a spirit of curiosity, adventure, creativity and
inspiration, and it’s been a thrill to watch them
(the filmmakers and the films) over the years.
Will’s latest film, Mustang—Journey of
Transformation, premiered at the Aspen Short Film
Festival earlier this month. And now it’s headed
to NY to screen in competition  at the
prestigious Tribeca Film Festival on April 27.
Tribeca was started by Robert De Niro and his
producing partner Jane Rosenthal in the wake of 9/11.

Mustang - Journey of Transformation tells the
story of the Himalayan Kingdom of Mustang, a
Tibetan culture saved from extinction through the
restoration of its most sacred sites. It is
narrated by Richard Gere and is truly
inspirational. Mustang lies on a windswept
plateau between Nepal and Tibet in one of the
most remote regions in the world. Isolated by
both geography and politics, Mustang–known as the
Forbidden Kingdom–has been completely off- limits
to westerners for 50 years. This starkly
beautiful place is home to one of the last
surviving repositories of Tibetan sacred art from
the 15th century. In 1991 Nepal opened Mustang’s border to the outside world.

What the first visitors found was shocking: the
ancient monasteries were on the verge of
collapse; the Buddhist wall paintings were
disintegrating; the community was deeply
impoverished. The people needed health care,
education, and jobs. Surprisingly, the King’s
first plea to outsiders offering help was to save
the monasteries. The King understood… saving the
art would save the people, because without
cultural identity there is nothing. Mustang
-Journey of Transformation is a tale of hope and
rebirth told by the people who helped save the Forbidden Kingdom.

Will describes my favorite character in the film,
Luigi, the Italian art restorer. "Luigi Fieni is
the head art conservator on the Mustang
restoration project. Luigi is like a beacon of
light, and his energy jumps off the screen.
Through his work in Mustang, Luigi has become,
what I call a guileless Bodhisattva… through his
open heart - we met dozens of his Loba friends.
You have to see Luigi in Mustang – because he’s
like the Pied Piper - everywhere he goes young
men and women… and more women, come running to
greet him. He’s universally loved for the great
work he’s done, for his generosity as a skilled
teacher and for the professional knowledge he’s
shared with the Lobas, and for his amazing spirit."

Interesting. I think Will’s energy and spirit are pretty amazing, too.

Please keep your eyes open for this film at your
local film festival. And if you’re in NY, please
consider attending one of the Tribeca screenings
(April 27, 30, May 1 and 3). Then find Will and
tell him you’re a friend of mine. I guarantee you’ll become a friend of his.