Louie Psihoyos: Last News

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefMinderoo Pictures, which pitches itself as “a social impact film enterprise” is being launched by the Minderoo Foundation, one of the largest philanthropic organizations in the Asia-Pacific.The new company starts life with a commitment of A$10 million ($7.7 million) from the foundation and a mission to develop, produce and assist in the release of screen projects that inspire change.The first four projects in development will span themes of ocean conservation, plastics and human health and early childhood development in Indigenous communities.Louie Psihoyos, director of “The Cove,” the controversial 2009 documentary about dolphin slaughter in Japan, is among the first to be backed by Minderoo Pictures.

When documentary filmmaker and anti-slavery activist Peggy Callahan got an invitation in from her friend Doug Abrams to shoot and co-direct Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama talking about joy in India in 2015, she didn’t hesitate to take the job.

EXCLUSIVE: One of Asia-Pacific’s largest philanthropic organizations, the Minderoo Foundation, is launching a social impact film division with a $7.5M ($10M AUD) fund to support screen projects tackling the global challenges championed by the Perth-based org.

Nick Schager Film CriticDespite hailing from different backgrounds and faiths, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu are linked by their kindred fights for justice and self-determination for all. Their unique friendship is the crux of “Mission: Joy – Finding Happiness in Troubled Times,” Academy Award-winner Louie Psihoyos (“The Cove”) and co-director Peggy Callahan’s nonfiction portrait of their relationship and shared ethos about the importance of positivity in individual, familial and communal life.

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterNorman Lear and his wife, Lyn, will keynote the second installment of Variety’s three-part “Sustainability in Hollywood” series presented by Toyota Mirai on Sept. 16 at 9:30 a.m.