Last week, Director Lara Damiani returned from Tibet amidst restrictions and strict Chinese control to complete the final stage of filming beforestarting the post-production of their documentary, scheduled for release later this year. At one point, there was a very real fear that my tapes and camera would be confiscated. We were driving back to Lhasa when we were stopped and questioned by a Chinese soldier for filming a bridge that was being guarded. Even more frightening were the possible consequences for our Tibetan driver and guide. The Chinese Government has such obvious control in Tibet and an oppressive and overbearing military presence said Lara.

China has strict regulations on journalists and filmmakers in Tibet despite supposedly relaxing these controls prior to the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Worldwide, supporters of Tibet will celebrate International Day of Action for Tibet on August 8th marking a year to the start of the Beijing Olympics.

The local filmmaker's documentary 'The Tibet Project - No Currency in Compassion' was inspired by the plight of Tibet and the Tibetans and a burning desire to spread the message of Tibet in the lead up to the Beijing Olympics. China invaded Tibet in 1950, overthrowing the Tibetan government who now operate in exile in India. Since then, more than a million Tibetans have been killed. Torture, death and imprisonment continue today. Forming their own independent film company, The Kollectiv, Lara and Alex knew that filming in Tibet would be a potentially dangerous task. To avoid suspicion and so as not to endanger the lives of the local Tibetan community, filming was undertaken under the guise of tourists. The documentary has been filmed in India, Tibet, China and Australia.

Chinese Government control in Tibet extends to the banning of all religious and political websites as well as the banning of images of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader. Images of the Dalai Lama are banned in Tibet but not many westerners would know that there is one surviving public picture of
the Dalai Lama in Norbulingka. I managed to secretly film it said Lara. Freedom of speech does not exist in Tibet with Tibetans too afraid to
mention the Dalai Lama's name or discuss politics in public for fear of imprisonment.

The documentary, which has not received funding from any funding bodies, will be released on DVD and sold to national and international broadcasters,
offers a contemporary look at the issue of Tibet and aims to raise awareness that the issue of Tibet is not just about Tibet it is a metaphor for our
world. It represents the struggle against power, greed, injustice and exploitation on a global level.

Tibet, under the guidance of its spiritual Nobel Peace Prize winning leader, represents the last bastion for a hopeful and peaceful future. Under the
world's eyes, this land, its people and their culture are being systematically wiped out. The documentary explores whether there is hope for Tibet in a world that places such little value on peace and compassion.

The Kollectiv is now keen to find investors with an interest in their story to help fund the post-production stage.

For more information, visit the website.