Blind bluesman Paul Pena's extraordinary journey to Tannu Tuva and his friendship with Tuvan's overtone singer Kongar-ol Ondar made Genghis Blues a timeless classic. Paul Pena used to perform and conduct throat singing workshops at Clarion. He was one of our most beloved musicians. The Tuvans used to visit Clarion every time they were in San Francisco. Both Paul and Kongar-ol Ondar have passed on. But their spirit and love of life and music continue to live on through this film.

Genghis Blues won the 1999 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award for a Documentary. It was also nominated for an Academy Award in 2000 in the Best Documentary Feature category.