Free Spirit Award 2005 was presented to Han-Shan and Liam Phelan, from the US and Australia respectively, for unfurling a protest banner that said, "No Olympics in China until Tibet is free", in Beijing on 31 August 2004.
The Award was presented to them during the coronation ceremony of Miss Tibet 2005 at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts in Mcleod Ganj, India.
Free Spirit Festival took a break for the year 2005. Since the festival gave birth to a few major events such as the Miss Tibet pageant, Tibetan Music Awards and the Tibetan Film Festival, the logistics became the obvious problem to hold and incorporate all the events in the festival itself.
All the major events are now separated and are organised independently. Miss Tibet pageant will be held every year and the events such as Tibetan Music Awards, the Tibetan Film Festival, and others that are being planned, will be held every other year or when announced.
The Free Spirit Festival will come back in the near future.
The Festival has been paid for mostly by the Producer and the Director, Lobsang Wangyal, himself over the years. He has been fortunate to be able to do this through his career in photojournalism, although funding for this year's festival still remains a problem with the producer. Any assistance that you may be able to offer in this regard would be appreciated. Please contact Lobsang Wangyal.