Leaving Fear Behind (in Tibetan, Jigdrel) is a heroic film shot by Tibetans from inside Tibet, who longed to bring Tibetan voices to the Beijing Olympic Games. With the global spotlight on China as it rises to host the XXIX Olympics, Tibetans wish to tell the world of their plight and their heartfelt grievances against Chinese rule. The footage was smuggled out of Tibet under extraordinary circumstances. The filmmakers were detained soon after sending their tapes out, and remain in detention today.

In a remarkable coincidence, filming concluded in early March 2008 on the eve of the eruption of unprecedented mass Tibetan protests across the Tibetan plateau. Shot primarily in the eastern provinces of Tibet, the film provides a glimpse into the hearts and minds of the Tibetan people and their longstanding resentment of Chinese policies in Tibet.

Leaving Fear Behind was shot entirely in Tibet by Dhonhup Wangchen who was assisted by his friend Jigme Gyatso, also known as Golog Jigme. Jigme Gyatso was born in 1969 in Golog Serta, in the Kardze region of Kham (in Chinese: Ganzi, Sichuan). He was a Tibetan Buddhist monk in Labrang Monastery in Gansu Province. Wangchen and Gyatso began as complete amateurs, with no camera experience, but with extraordinary determination and courage. They covered thousands of miles on motorbike and overcame innumerable hurdles, all to bring the unheard voices of ordinary Tibetans to the world stage.

For the filmmakers, revealing their identities was always a part of the plan. Fully aware of the risks they took, they rejected anonymity as an option. In order for the film to be made, fear had to be truly set aside.Both Dhondup Wangchen and Golog Jigme are now in detention. They were detained shortly after concluding filming in March 2008. During the project, Dhondup assumed a code name: Jigme − which means " fearless " in Tibetan. His code name inspired the film’s title: Leaving Fear Behind.