The Geshema is Born by Malati Rao

Tibetan Buddhist nuns have for centuries sought the audacious idea of 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 explores their journey.

Bangkok, Thailand (Award)
Jakarta, Indonesia (Award)
Indic Global Festival (Award)
Berlin, Germany
Florence, Italy
Madrid, Spain
Calcutta; Mumbai; India

Malati Rao has been making documentaries for the last decade, several of which have been broadcast on public television. Handmade in India, on India's craft traditions, and Born Behind Bars, about children growing up in prison, have been applauded and screened at several film festivals. Malati holds an MFA degree in Film and Media Arts from Temple University, USA, and an MA in Mass Communication from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi.

  • Associate Director: Shefali Jamwal
  • Cinematographers: Shanker Raman, Paromita Dhar, Tarun Rakeshiya, Shefali Jamwal
  • Location Sound Recordists: Sudipto Mukhopadhyay, Shefali Jamwal
  • Editors: Shefali Jamwal, Malati Rao
  • Project Partner: Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Festival, screening and distribution queries: distribution@psbt.org