2025 | Documentary 

DALAI LAMA – THE FATEFUL YEARS

The 14th Dalai Lama: an influential figure with a fascinating life story.

He has been the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists since the age of four. His tireless commitment to peace and human rights has made him known around the world.

This three-part documentary explores key moments in the Dalai Lama’s life. It offers various perspectives on how he became one of the most revered spiritual leaders of our time—and what kind of person he truly is.

Among those featured are rapper Curse, the Dalai Lama’s author and ghostwriter – Alexander Norman, his friends Roland Koch and Franz Alt, exile Tibetan Tenzyn Zöchbauer, scholar Kelsang Wangmo, and journalist Mirko Drotschmann.

Distribution
Bettina Offermann
distribution@looks.film

Executive Producers
Roxana Hennig
Gunnar Dedio

A production by
LOOKS Media GmbH

Commissioned by
MDR and SWR

For
ARD

Creative Producer
Susanne Ladopoulos

Written & directed by
Heike Bittner

Commissioning Editors
Anja Weber (Leitung, MDR)
Saskia Barthel (MDR)
Katrin Grünewald (SWR)
Bernd Seidl (SWR)

Production Manager
Anne Tiede
Nathalie Dietrich
Alexandra Dorn (MDR)