A touch of Tinseltown hit Dundee this weekend when acclaimed Hollywood director Khashyar Darvich attended a screening of his film, Dalai Lama Renaissance.
Khashyar was invited to the city by the Nilupul Foundation as part of its celebrations for Scottish Inter Faith Week.
The charity held a free screening of the film on Saturday night at its centre in Reform Street.
This is not the first time Khashyar’s film has hit Dundee, as it was shown back in June at the DCA to coincide with the Dalai Lama’s visit.
Khashyar said of the film: ”It’s the story of these Westerners who travel to India and meet the Dalai Lama and speak about solving all the world’s problems and the end is unexpected.
”I was here in June and July when I did a tour of the UK and Ireland but I didn’t meet the Dalai Lama when he was here.”
The documentary director has, however, interviewed His Holiness on a number of occasions.
”I think the Dalai Lama is a person everyone can admire,” he said.
”He puts his highest ideas into practice. He puts compassion and peace into life.
”It’s pretty extraordinary meeting him.
”He’s the same one-on-one as he is in a stadium of thousands.”
Dalai Lama Renaissance has received 12 international film festival awards and attracted audiences across the globe.
The documentary is narrated by Hollywood legend Harrison Ford.
”He liked the subject matter,” Khashyar added. ”It’s inspiring that someone who is a huge celebrity like that uses their celebrity for positive things and for service.”
Khashyar took a question and answer session at the screening as part of Inter Faith Week, which aims to bring people in Scotland together through peaceful dialogue.
He said: ”It feels fantastic. There’s a way in the world to bring more humanity, to understand there’s a variety of faiths and cultures and we have more things in common than different.”
Kumanga Andrahennadi, of the Nilupul Foundation, said: ”For Nilupul we consider it a big blessing to have Khashyar here.
”It’s the beginning of Christmas celebrations and going into the new year.”