Interview with film faculty Tenzin Phuntsog
Tenzin Phuntsog on his film Next Life, commitment to 35mm, the power of sound design, and protecting the creative process.
Film faculty member Tenzin Phuntsog’s fiction debut, Next Life, offers an intimate portrait of the Tibetan diaspora, contrasting the realities of life in American exile with the spiritual desire for home. Set within a suburban American house, the film centers on a son navigating red tape to secure a visa for his ailing father to return to Tibet. Phuntsog weaves in traditional Tibetan spiritual practices, such as metaphysical pulse reading, to explore the father's inner turmoil and the generational divide.
In this compelling interview with Filmmaker Magazine, Phuntsog discusses his commitment to the intentionality and limitations of shooting on 35mm film, and how being denied entry to Tibet ultimately shaped the film’s focus on internal landscapes. He also reflects on the creative process behind transforming his parents' home into a cinematic setting.