Melissa Mathison with His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Melissa Mathison with His Holiness the Dalai Lama during one of several audiences she had with him.

The Board of Directors and staff of the International Campaign for Tibet are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend and fellow Board member, Melissa Mathison, on November 4, 2015. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.

Melissa Mathison, a screenwriter for over 30 years, was a friend and supporter of the Tibetan people. Through both her personal and professional life, she contributed greatly to putting the spotlight on the plight of the Tibetan people. Her movies include, “The Black Stallion,” “E.T.,” and “Kundun,” which is a biography of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Melissa and Kundun director Martin Scorsese were awarded ICT’s Light of Truth in 1998, an award that recognizes individuals and institutions who have made significant contributions to the public understanding of Tibet and the fight for human rights and democratic freedoms for the Tibetan people.

Melissa joined the Board of Directors at the International Campaign for Tibet in 1995 and continued to be an active Board member right up until her final weeks. All of us at the International Campaign for Tibet offer our heartfelt condolences to her family.

Melissa Mathison with His Holiness the Dalai Lama