Internationally acclaimed feature documentary, Meeting the Buddha arrives in Australia this February, offering an intimate, cinematic exploration of Tibetan Buddhism’s journey into the modern world through one of its most influential spiritual lineages.
Created by an international filmmaking team from the United Kingdom, Germany, Hungary and Denmark, in collaboration with venerable Tibetan Lamas, Meeting the Buddha is produced by The Beautiful Truth, the award-winning film and storytelling studio known for documentaries that explore purpose, impact and humanity.
Blending rare archival footage, original animation, intimate interviews and contemporary reflections, the film traces the extraordinary life and legacy of the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, and his profound relationship with Lama Ole Nydahl, a young Danish seeker whose life was transformed by a chance encounter with the Karmapa in 1969.
Through this bond between teacher and student, Meeting the Buddha tells a richly historical yet deeply personal story of courage, friendship and spiritual transmission—revealing how timeless wisdom found its way from the monasteries of Tibet into contemporary life across the globe.
”Meeting the Buddha is a story of friendship, risk and transformation, told across continents and decade,” says Director Marta Gyorgy-Kessler.
“It brings together rare archival footage, animation and intimate interviews to show how a chance encounter in 1969 helped carry Tibetan Buddhism into contemporary life — and why that story still matters today.”
The film captures the remarkable presence of the 16th Karmapa—often referred to as a ‘Living Buddha’—from his early years in Tibet, through exile in India, to his visionary commitment to sharing Buddhist teachings with the modern world.
Alongside him, audiences meet Ole Nydahl, once a wild young hippy from Denmark who, as a child, declared his ambition to become the “Danish champion of mind.” Together with his wife Hannah Nydahl, Ole became instrumental in bringing Tibetan Buddhism to the West, helping establish hundreds of meditation centres from Mexico City to Vladivostok and carrying forward their teacher’s vision with unshakable dedication.
Set against political upheaval in Tibet and cultural transformation in the West, Meeting the Buddha honours the living transmission of the Karma Kagyu lineage and the enduring relationship between teacher and student that sustains it.
Directed by Márta György-Kessler, who first encountered Buddhism through Ole and Hannah Nydahl in 1990, Meeting the Buddha follows her award-winning documentary Hannah – Buddhism’s Untold Journey, which screened internationally and was featured on Netflix.
In 2025 alone, Meeting the Buddha has earned 13 international awards at jury-only screenings, including four Awards of Excellence from the IndieFEST Film Awards, The Impact DOCS Awards and Docs Without Borders.
Screening dates:
· Perth – 26 February (Event Cinemas Innaloo)
· Melbourne – 3 March (Eclipse Cinema)
· Albury – 4 March (Regent Cinemas)
· Canberra – 4 March (Palace Electric)
· Sydney – 7 March (Palace Moore Park)
· Newcastle – 9 March (Kotara)
· Byron Bay – 16 March (Palace Byron Bay)
The Australian release of Meeting the Buddha arrives at a time of growth in Buddhism nationwide. According to the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census, 2.4% of Australians—approximately 615,000 people—identify as Buddhist, making it the fourth-largest religion in Australia. This marks a significant increase from just 0.8% of the population in 1971, reflecting decades of growth and the expanding presence of Buddhist practice and communities across the country. Today, Buddhism follows Christianity (43.9%), No Religion (38.9%), Islam (3.2%) and Hinduism (2.7%) in Australia’s religious landscape, underscoring its enduring and evolving role in contemporary Australian society.
About The Beautiful Truth
Founded in 2002, The Beautiful Truth is a collective of filmmakers, storytellers and strategists whose award-winning work spans cinema, television, print and immersive experiences. From documentaries for BBC and Channel 4 to globally distributed publishing projects, their work explores stories that spark ideas, open hearts and inspire change.