CU-Boulder hosting Tibet Film Festival (VIDEO)

University of Colorado professor Carole McGranahan acquired a soft spot in her heart for Tibet when she studied abroad in Nepal in college.

"Although I was entirely smitten by Nepal," McGranahan said, "it was when I met the Tibetan refugees and the stories they told me that stayed with me when I came home.

"It was interesting to learn the story of Tibet while living in Nepal."

McGranahan's anthropology class on Tibet is organizing the campus' inaugural Tibet Film Festival, which starts tonight.

McGranahan, who has been teaching at CU since 2001, has hosted a small Tibet film series before, but never one at this level.

"We wanted to have an actual film festival and open it to the Boulder and Tibetan communities," McGranahan said. "There are many amazing films on Tibet ... and I thought this provided a good chance to celebrate Tibet."

The students organized the festival as part of a class assignment.

CU graduate student Marnie Thomson, who is the lead teaching assistant for the course, said the class of about 250 was split into four recitations.

The students were quartered into one of four groups for the films: publicity, creating a program, hosting a Q&A or fundraising.

"The fundraising helps bring not only an awareness about Tibet, but it's also a way to help make an impact," Thomson said. "I think the project engages the students and helps to get them interested in anthropology and culture of Tibet."

CU junior Jessica McNierney said she signed up for the class to fill a requirement, but, in retrospect, she is happy she took the class.

"I've always read about the struggle between China and Tibet," McNierney said. "This class is a good way to learn about the history of Tibet and it raises awareness about that part of the world."

McNierney is part of a publicity group that is in charge of promoting the 2008 film "The Unwinking Gaze," which plays Saturday in the Education building.

Her group has been distributing fliers around town and created a Facebook page to promote the film.

"It's good for the students to feel like they have something that they've helped create," Thomson said. "It's not just completing an assignment. It goes beyond the classroom."

McNierney said with the large Tibetan population in Boulder and a local interest in learning more about the Dalai Lama, she thinks people will enjoy the festival.

McGranahan said the project encourages students to think outside of the classroom.

"I want the students to draw in their peers and the local community to engage others in conversations about Tibet," McGranahan said.