PROJECT HAPPINESS Opens in Washington, D.C. in Celebration of Dalai Lama's Visit to Nation's Capital

Special two night event at Washington, D.C.'s West End Cinema, July 10th and 11th

WASHINGTON, July 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In celebration of the visit of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama and his Washington, D.C. Kalachakra teachings, the nonprofit organization Project Happiness will be presenting a special two-night screening of the film, PROJECT HAPPINESS at the West End Cinema.  This award-winning documentary follows students on a quest for lasting happiness and culminates in a rare private interview with the Dalai Lama.  The screening will be followed by a Q&A discussion with PROJECT HAPPINESS creator, Randy Taran, as well as a panel of special guests.  

PROJECT HAPPINESS documents the lives of ordinary young people on an extraordinary journey to explore the nature of lasting happiness.  The film focuses on four teens from Santa Cruz, California.  Each faces personal obstacles to happiness: loss, alienation and the everyday challenges of being a teenager passing into adulthood.  PROJECT HAPPINESS introduces them to their peers in Nigeria and India and quickly leaves lectures and books behind.  In addition to connecting with each other, the teens engage in conversations with cultural icons George Lucas, Richard Gere and groundbreaking neuroscientist Richard Davidson.  At the end of their year together, the three groups converge in India for a rare private interview with the Dalai Lama—an event that rocks their expectations, brings more questions than answers and marks a new chapter in their lives.

Tibet Today calls PROJECT HAPPINESS "a remarkable journey of self-discovery".  His Holiness, the Dalai Lama says of PROJECT HAPPINESS that it "provides an opportunity for people to look beyond narrow self-interests, to find out and consider what is of interest and benefit to others." And filmmaker and educational activist George Lucas calls PROJECT HAPPINESS "a wonderful film and amazing achievement."  

PROJECT HAPPINESS is an Official Selection at several upcoming film festivals throughout the world including the Seoul Youth International Film Festival and the WorldKids International Film Festival in Mumbai, India.  In June, PROJECT HAPPINESS won the Indie for Feature Documentary from The Indie Fest in La Jolla, CA.  Inspired by the film, creator/producer Randy Taran has created a nonprofit called Project Happiness that teaches kids and young adults social and emotional life skills through after school and university programs, a workbook and an international outreach that is touching thousands of lives.

PROJECT HAPPINESS documentary screening
Includes Q&A discussion with Project Happiness creator Randy Taran and special guests.

Sponsored by: The West End Cinema
Event Date: Sunday, July 10th and Monday, July 11th, 7:30 p.m.

Location:
The West End Cinema
2301 M Street Northwest
Washington, D.C.  20037
(202) 419-3456

Tickets: Adult - $11| Senior/Student - $9 | Children (12 & under) - $8
Tickets can be purchased at the door or advanced tickets can be ordered for this screening at: http://boxoffice.printtixusa.com/westendcinema/advance?v=4142&i=10803

SOURCE PROJECT HAPPINESS