The Art of Buddhist Filmmaking: " Meeting the Buddha"

Discover how Márta weaves Buddhist wisdom into film, where personal practice meets creative storytelling.

The Art of Buddhist Filmmaking: “Meeting the Buddha”

Presented by Márta György-Kessler

Hosted by Dr Nadine Levy

February 27 2026

12.30pm-1.30pm (AEDT)

Event will be held online via Zoom

Join us for a special lunchtime conversation with Márta György-Kessler, director of the internationally acclaimed documentary Meeting the Buddha. The film presents an intimate, richly layered exploration of the life and legacy of the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, whose presence and vision helped carry Buddhist teachings into the modern world.

Through rare archival footage, original animation, and thoughtful interviews, Meeting the Buddha traces the profound teacher-student relationship between the Karmapa and Ole Nydahl, a young Danish seeker whose life was radically transformed through that encounter. Together with his wife, Hannah, Nydahl became a pivotal figure in bringing Tibetan Buddhist practice and community to the West, founding hundreds of meditation centres across countries and cultures.

In this event, Márta will share insights into her creative process and the spiritual and artistic intersections of Buddhism and filmmaking — how personal practice informs storytelling, the challenges of capturing lived Dharma on film, and what it means to bring ancient wisdom into contemporary life.

For more information on the film, or to watch the trailer, please visit the website https://www.meetingthebuddha.com/

About the Presenter

Márta György-Kessler is an internationally acclaimed documentary filmmaker, writer and producer whose work explores the transformative power of spiritual encounter and personal journey. She directed Meeting the Buddha, a feature documentary that traces the life of the 16th Karmapa and the living transmission of Tibetan Buddhism into contemporary life, blending rare archival footage, intimate interviews and animation to illuminate timeless wisdom in modern contexts. Her earlier film Hannah – Buddhism’s Untold Journey screened widely including on Netflix and has been celebrated for its depth and narrative grace. Márta first encountered Buddhism through her meetings with Lama Ole and Hannah Nydahl in 1990, an experience that continues to shape her creative and personal path.

Tickets are free; however, registrations are essential.