Director/Producer: Johnny Burke

Description:

In the remote foothills of the Himalayas, former monk Lobsang Phuntsok has built Jhamtse Gatsal–“The Garden of Love and Compassion”–a community for children who have endured abandonment, neglect and profound trauma. Once a spiritual teacher in the United States, Lobsang returned to India to create the kind of refuge he never had as a troubled orphan himself. Tashi is the youngest and most volatile arrival. Carrying the pain of an alcoholic father and a fractured early childhood, she pushed against every rule and every adult who tried to help her. Yet Lobsang saw possibility within her turmoil, recognizing the same wounded resilience that once defined him. In a context where Western institutions might rely on clinicians, diagnoses and medication, Jhamtse Gatsal offers a radically simple alternative: a community where healing emerges from shared responsibility, affection and presence. As the children grow, falter and flourish, the film asks a fundamental question: What happens when suffering meets compassion? 

Biography:

Johnny Burke is an Emmy Award-winning British filmmaker. His films have been broadcast around the world, won awards at more than forty international film festivals and had a direct impact helping improve the lives of the people featured in the films. Through his production company, High Altitude Films, Johnny combines his passion for storytelling with a commitment to social impact. He creates compelling films for streamers, television, charities and nonprofits, amplifying their missions and catalyzing meaningful change. “My mission is to use films to transform the world (and hopefully myself) into a wiser and kinder state of being. My method is simple: to always respect, value and listen to the people I film, so they genuinely feel I’ve made an authentic portrait of their lives.” Johnny has spoken at the United Nations, was invited to be on the jury for the British Independent Film Awards and has contributed articles to Broadcast Magazine UK and the International Documentary Association, Los Angeles. He has an ongoing role teaching and mentoring a number of up and coming filmmakers.

Contact Information:

e: johnny@johnny-burke.com 
w: johnny-burke.com