By Nancy Tartaglione
Screen Daily
May 22, 2009

Returning to the Far East after his foray into
the love life of fashion icon Coco Chanel, Jan
Kounen will head to Tibet to shoot The Secret Histories Of The Dalai Lama.

The docu-fiction film, which will begin shooting
in June, is a throwback to the work Kounen has
previously done focusing on peace and compassion.
He will direct the $5.5m (€4m) project with with Anne Paris.

Secret Histories, which will use 3D technology.
tells the story of the Dalai Lamas from the 14th
century to today including the biggest moments in Tibet’s history.

Germany’s Integral Films is co-producing and
Manuel de la Roche is executive producing via his
Paris-based Movie Sphere. Jean-Claude Carriere is
writing the script based on an original idea by Pema Dhon Dup.

The current Dalai Lama will participate in the
fresco which will also include the first time the
Dalai’s oracle allows footage to be shot of an actual trance.