The Search

The Search or Soul Searching (Chinese: 寻找智美更登) is a 2009 Tibetan romance film written and directed by Pema Tseden. The Search is the first-ever film made in Western China's Tibet Autonomous Region to have been shot entirely with a Tibetan crew and in the Tibetan language. The film picks up the story of a photographer and a director travels from village to village looking for actors to star in a film based on the Tibetan opera Drimé Kunden, a legendary account of a prince who selflessly gives away his children and his own eyes to those in need. The film premiered at Locarno International Film Festival on August 11, 2009. The Search won Special Jury Award at the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival and was nominated for Golden Goblet.