TUCSON, AZ — The historic Fox Tucson Theatre will host the premiere of Zen and the Art of Matcha on Wednesday, March 11 for a special free community screening (RSVP required). Presented by Matcha Kari in partnership with Dr. Gulshan Sethi and Mrs. Neelam Sethi, The Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, and Tucson Foodie, the evening invites guests into the rich cultural and spiritual world of matcha tea.
The celebration begins before the film with a dynamic taiko drum performance by LA Taiko Ichiza (Los Angeles) and a traditional Nihon Buyo dance performance by Suzuyuki Kai (Tucson). Following the screening, audiences will enjoy a live Q&A with Dr. Andrew Weil and filmmaker Scott Garen.
Guests are encouraged to wear different green hues and colors in honor of matcha.
Directed by Scott Garen, Zen and the Art of Matcha takes viewers on a Zen journey with Dr. Andrew Weil into the tea culture and spiritual matrix of Japan. Through interviews with Zen monks, a traditional tea ceremony, and visits to tea-growing regions—from mist-covered mountain fields to historic Uji, the green tea capital of Japan for 800 years—the film traces matcha’s journey from harvest to cup.
The documentary highlights the artistry behind matcha production, featuring Tango Tanamura, a 20th-generation artisan who hand-carves intricate tea whisks, and Ogawa Choraku, who kneads clay into Raku tea bowls used by Japan’s Emperor. The film also explores matcha’s growing global influence, from its roots in Zen thought and Sado—the Way of Tea—to its modern resurgence among younger generations and the rise of matcha cafés worldwide.
This is the first major film exploring the phenomenon of matcha, a tradition now taking the world by storm.
“I’m excited to share all this information about matcha, which I think for most people will be new and surprising,” said Dr. Andrew Weil.
“I’m very excited about sharing our film on the big screen,” said filmmaker Scott Garen. “This was a wonderful journey into the tea culture and world of matcha, the unique way it’s grown and processed, and its deep roots in Zen thought and the tea ceremony.”
Doors open at 5:30 PM, LA Taiko Ichiza at 6 PM, and the screening begins at 6:30 PM with Q&A immediately following the film. Admission is free with RSVP, and seating is limited.
For RSVP and event details, visit www.foxtucson.com
Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLkOEG_muDc&t=3s
###