Himalaya Film & Cultural Festival

Sometimes you just want to see a film that takes you away. To somewhere hot if it's cold, somewhere fascinating if you're bored, somewhere unfamiliar if your world feels too small.

Himalaya, Where the Wind Dwells is one such film. Evocative and beautifully shot, it follows a depressed Korean businessman (played by Choi Min-sik) who travels to Nepal on a whim to visit the family of an illegal immigrant killed in an accident in Korea. What follows is a rare insight into a family's routines and rituals in a remote part of Nepal.

It may be fiction but it's one of those films that makes you feel that you're almost there. The fluttering of colourful prayer flags, the tinkling of horse bells, the low grunts of farm animals and the jaw-dropping Himalayan backdrop. In fact, heading out of Rich Mix on a Friday night into a Shoreditch in full party mode was a bit of shock. I wanted to turn round and be back in Nepal.

Himalaya, Where the Wind Dwells was the opening film of the Himalaya Film & Cultural Festival. Thankfully we can escape from a rainy London to the Himalayas for the next few days, courtesy of this festival, the first of its kind in the UK. Films (and accompanying talks) from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Burma, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Tibet will be shown at Rich Mix throughout the week.

“People in the UK have heard of the Himalaya but a lot of the region’s coverage is based on a few well-worn stories like Mount Everest and the Gurkhas. While these are important, the Himalaya are much more diverse than that, " says Taran Wilkhu, Director of Projects, who helped set up the festival.

"With large communities from Afghanistan, Kashmir, Nepal and other parts of the Himalaya living in the UK, we wanted to raise awareness of life and culture in the region beyond the usual stereotypes. This includes the exposure of film and other art and media, and the direct, grassroots educational initiatives we are also involved in.”

Some films will be UK premieres while others like the Kite Runner are well known. Live music from traditional and modern musicians can be heard at the Nehru Centre,  Mayfair and Passing Clouds, Dalston while art and photography exhibitions from international artists will be shown at The Sweet Tea House, Bethnal Green and the Nehru Centre.

The Himalaya film and cultural festival runs until Friday 12th February. See the website for the full programme of events.