Next in our World in London blog challenge is Palestine. The 2012 London Palestine Film Festival runs from 20 April 20 to 3 May. Sheyma Buali celebrates the rise of this unique event on London’s cultural calendar. 

For 15 years, the London Palestine Film Festival (LPFF) has been engaging growing London audiences with quality film made in and about Palestine.

Amongst the first festivals of its kind in the world, today the LPFF and its curatorial umbrella, the Palestine Film Foundation, is the leading authority on Palestinian cinema, consistently bringing rare and hard-to-find films to London screens. The Festival showcases both the newest in Palestinian production, and exposes audiences to classics and rediscoveries from across the breadth of cinema history. 

As a relatively diverse and progressive city, London makes an inviting space for cross-cultural and political debate; it is this open characteristic that explains the growth of Festival audiences.

The LPFF has built strong partnerships with a wide variety of London-based arts initiatives; it has also secured precious statutory funding for its unique contribution to the city’s rich cultural calendar. The Festival exists today as a Palestine-focused project that is emphatically at home in the British capital. 

First held in 1998 with a VHS recorder in a classroom at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), today the LPFF takes place over a fortnight at four major venues across the city. The bulk of the programme is hosted at the Barbican Centre. But in keeping with its origins and the Foundation’s belief in the educational role of film-led debate, the LPFF maintains a number of screenings at University of London venues, offered on a “pay-what-you-can” basis, ensuring no-one is priced out of the Festival. 

The LPFF’s strengths lie in both the richness of the films on offer, and in the calibre of its guest speakers. Indeed, for the Palestinian and broader Arab communities in London, the LPFF’s value derives from establishing new spaces for cultural and intellectual exchanges, bringing London communities together with students, actors, academics, and cineastes alike. In recent years, the Festival has attracted leading directors Michel Khleifi, Elia Suleiman, Kamal Aljafari, and Eyal Sivan and renowned scholars and writers Ella Shohat, Ahdaf Soueif, and Ilan Pappe. With scores more preeminent speakers engaging with Festival audiences annually, the LPFF has emerged as a prized space for London audiences to discuss myriad questions related to Palestine in thought-provoking and fresh ways.

As the Festival has continued to expand beyond cinema screenings, an annual visual arts exhibition has been added to its highlights. Remarkably, this remains free to the public, hosted at the Barbican Centre. The 2012 exhibition provides a rare showcase of work by 15 video artists from Palestine (6-27 April).

With its annual fortnight packed with panel discussions, UK Premieres, art exhibitions, director talks, and even a new youth outreach programme, the LPFF is firmly on its way to becoming the leading cultural event related to Palestine in Europe. What’s more, this year promises an additional bonus in the form of three special “Pre-Festival Events” from late March – stay tuned online for details, tickets, and updates: http://www.palestinefilm.org/

Can you suggest any other places to get a taste of Palestinian culture in London? Let us know in the comments below

With our World in London series, we’re highlighting many modern restaurants and attractions with roots from around the world, but in fact London’s incredible multiculturalism has spanned centuries. And we’re discovering even the tiniest places have forged strong connections with our huge city.

The Republic of Palau‘s links with London date back to the 1780s and the arrival on the small Pacific archipelago of a group of shipwrecked sailors, including Captain Wilson, his son Henry, and his brother Mathias – all from Rotherhithe in South East London.

Local Chieftain Abba Thulle helped the men build a new vessel to replace their shipwrecked packet, The Antelope. He was so impressed and intrigued by their strange customs and ship-building skills that he arranged for his second son, Prince Lee Boo, to return with the men to England.

Lee Boo reached London in July 1784, and was set up in the home of Captain Wilson, on Paradise Row, Rotherhithe, and attended a local academy.

While in London, Lee Boo was also in the crowd who witnessed Vincenzo Lunardi‘s first balloon flight at The Artillery Ground near Old Street.

Sadly Lee Boo succumbed to smallpox and died in December 1784, but the relationship between London and Palau that he began continues to this day. His tomb, in the Wilson family plot in St Mary’s Churchyard, Rotherhithe, was recently visited by an official delegation from The Republic of Palau.

The inscription on Lee Boo’s tomb reads:

To the memory of prince Lee Boo, a native of the Pelew or Palaos Islands and Son of Abba Thulle, Rupack or King of the Island Cooroora, Who departed this Life on the 27th December 1784, aged 20 years, this stone is inscribed by the Honourable United East India Company as a testimony of Esteem for the humane and kind treatment afforded by his Father to the Crew of their Ship, the Antelope, Captain Wilson, which was Wrecked off that island on the Night of 9th August 1783. Stop, reader, Stop  let Nature Claim a tear. A prince of Mine, LEE BOO, Lies Buried Here.

Do you know of any other London links with Palau? Let us know in the comments below.

Puerto Rican Marco Santos tells us about Puerto Rico in London for our World in London project.

Long ago I got fed up with fantastic weather, great food and generous people and decided to leave Puerto Rico for other shores.

After years in the US, and generally wandering about, I’ve settled in London which fulfils two of the above three and adds two millennia worth of culture and history!

Still, as the song goes and like most of us who end up leaving, I do long for Viejo San Juan.

Salsa in London

“Despite a 20th century habit of emigration, you won’t find many Puerto Ricans in London. Most of us who do leave the island end up on the other side of the big pond, in New York or Florida.

What you will get in London is a big helping of our musical exports, be they pop icons (shake your bon-bons please Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin) or our sizeable contribution to the well-known musical genre of salsa, which most of us have been dancing to since we were toddlers.

Try some of your local London salsa clubs and you will no doubt hear one of our musicians: People in the know say you can always tell if there’s a “boricua” on the congas.

Reggaeton in London

More recently (well, in the last five years or so) you’ll have heard some of our more heavily street hip-grinding beats of reggeaton: seeded in Panama, developed in Puerto Rico and exploding throughout the Latin American community.

Artists like Wisin & Yandel, Don Omar, Daddy Yankee and my personal favourite Tego Calderon do make the trip and put on a wild show. Special mention reserved for cross-over artists Calle 13, who have taken a very strong political message and broader musical style and chalked up countless Grammies as a result.

Go to a gig – the energy is spectacular and you won’t be able to stop yourself from dancing.  Or you can check out a reggaeton club, where you’ll likely find a higher concentration of the broader Latin community.

More Puerto Rican Culture in London

The few of us who are in London are often students or professionals and the community is so small that we don’t have any restaurants, markets or organizations.  If you know of any, I’d love to hear of them!

Do you have any more tips for sampling Puerto Rican culture in London? Let us know in the comments below.

British-Pakistani blogger Mariam Sheikh, a London-bred communications specialist and food enthusiast joins our World in London challenge, to talk about the joys of savouring Pakistani cuisine in London.

Where can you find Pakistan in London? Well, with the Office for National Statistics stating there are around 180,000 Londoners of Pakistani descent, the answer to that question is “just about anywhere!”

Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest are where you can find the largest Pakistani communities in the city. Pockets in West and South London such as Tooting and Wembley are also home to thriving Pakistani communities.

Like other Londoners of South Asian decent, considerable numbers of Pakistanis have set up their own businesses, including grocery stores and newsagents, as well as myriad restaurants offering tantalising and mouth-watering Pakistani cuisine.

Pakistani cuisine is not all that different from Indian cuisine (it was once the same country after all) and restaurants in London have often marketed themselves along the lines of the traditional Indian curry house. But there are slight differences; Pakistani cuisine is likely to have lots of barbequed and grilled meat, with some – but less – sauce dishes than other South Asian restaurants and hardly any fruit or coconut used in curries.

Today there are many Pakistani restaurants that are gaining confidence to break the mould of the “curry house” image; some market their food specifically as Pakistani and most offer a modern, contemporary and affordable dining experience. Areas in London have developed where entire streets are full of South Asian restaurants, and many of the most popular ones offer Pakistani cuisine.

Some of my top Pakistani restaurant picks are:

• Lahore Karahi and Spice Village in Tooting
• Tayyabs in Whitechapel
• Bandu Khan in Aldgate
• Raavi kebab in Euston

Biriyani, masala fish, seekh kebab, tandoori lamb chops and falooda are all typical on a Pakistani menu and are sure to have your lips smacking at their appetising aroma. So next time you’re in these areas be sure to make your way down to the nearest Pakistani restaurant and savour the delectable flavours for yourself!

http://www.myspace.com/mariamsheikh

What’s your experience of Pakistani culture in London? Tell us in the comments below.

This stunning photo of the Panama Canal in the 1960s is currently on show in the National Maritime Museum’s Waterline exhibition.

The show looks back at the golden age of cruising from 1925 to 1970, featuring photos of conga lines, shark fishing, Victorian fancy dress and sumptuous banquets.

The 48-mile (77km) Panama Canal connects the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean. Travelling from one end to the other can take a whole day. This boat’s crewmen seem to be enjoying the view.

Do you know of more Panama culture in London? If so, let us know for our World in London challenge.

Waterline is at the National Maritime Museum until April. Admission is free

We spoke to Peruvian Igor Siveroni to find out more about Peruvian experiences in London. Igor has organised several events in London to promote Peruvian culture including a Peruvian fair (Brightest Peru) and a photography exhibition. He has recently started Southern Exposure, an organisation promoting Peruvian culture in London.

Moving To London

I moved to London in October 2000. I had been interested in English culture since I was young. In particular, the Victorian era, eccentric London, English beer and British music. It seemed so far way from Peru but, after living seven years in the US, I was ready to move to London.

I like the mix of old and new [in London], how Victorian architecture sits next to modern buildings and how the old layout of the city is populated by buildings of different periods.

The cultural supply in London is endless: museums, theatre, fashion, film, exhibitions, concerts, etc. I find that London has the perfect mix of history and modern trends. Unlike other European cities that have become museums, London is alive.

Peruvian Culture in London

There’s only one Peruvian restaurant in London, Tito’s (the other restaurant, El Aguajal, closed in 2009). However, there’s a Peruvian food stall in Camden Market and two more at Regent’s Place Market on Triton square, plus the Partridge’s Food Market near the Saatchi Gallery – the last two are run by Peruvian caterers Panka.

The British Museum collection has a few Peruvian pieces from Inca and pre-Inca eras (unlike Mexico, Peru does not have a dedicated space). You can find them in the “Living and Dying” and “Enlightment” rooms on the ground floor. A few more pieces are on display in the “The Changing Museum” room (Inca Gold Llama, Paracas textile, Moche warrior pot).

Several young Peruvian artists live in London. Their work is often exhibited by The Peruvian Embassy‘s Portable Gallery and Civic Room. Currently  the installation “The Followers” by Peruvian artist Ximena Garrido-Lecca  is on show at the Saatchi Gallery.

Several bands that play Peruvian music or that are made up of Peruvian musicians are based in London. The Lokandes Project fuses afro and Andean music while Kausary plays Latin-Andean fusion.

The Peruvian Community in London

Compared to other Latin American countries, the Peruvian community is relatively small (perhaps 6000 people?) The Anglo-Peruvian Society organises talks at the Peruvian Embassy, Canning House and the Instituto Cervantes.The cultural branch of the Peruvian Embassy organises exhibitions and cultural events at the Embassy.

Southern Exposure organises monthly events – Pisco Night (serving Pisco-based drinks in different locations) and PeruPopUp (a night of Peruvian film, food and drinks).

Southern Exposure‘s new website will soon be live at www.southexp.org but until then you can find out about upcoming events on the Facebook page. Where else can you experience Peruvian culture in London? Let us know in the comments below.

The video above features second-generation Filipinos in London talking about their experience of growing up here. It was made in collaboration with local organisation Philippine Generations.

Adrian Williams, chairman of Philippine Generations, tells us a bit about the organisation and Filipinos in London for our World In London series.

Philippine Generations is a London-based not for profit organisation, led by the children of migrant workers, who are also known as the second generation. Philippine Generations promotes awareness and raises the profile of the Philippines, its people and culture in the UK, as well as raising the aspirations of Filipinos in the UK.

The last British Census (2001) claimed 250,000 Filipinos registered in the UK, this figure does not include the children of migrant workers or their children. With increased migration, especially in the health sector, as well as laws allowing Filipinos to bring their children into the UK after working here for a set number of years and those Filipinos not registered or registered as British, this figure should realistically be much higher.

Although the majority of Filipinos started life in the UK in Central London, the 1980s and 1990s saw many buying their own homes and settling in areas such as Hounslow, Plaistow, Seven Sisters, Battersea, Fulham and Earls Court. In fact, Earls Court has the highest concentration of Filipino stores and restaurants anywhere in the UK.

Philippine Generations events, projects and initiatives have included: Philippine cuisine, dance, martial arts, language classes, cultural workshops, political debates, VSO volunteering, golf, a charity fundraising gig, community research, football and book launches.

The next event is a parol-making Workshop at the Whizz-Kidz HQ in Victoria on 4 December 2010. Parol are star-shaped Christmas lanterns that are the Philippines’ symbol of Christmas. Twelve artists have been commissioned to create their own version of a parol to be exhibited in the SW1 Gallery a week after the parol workshop.

• To find out more about Philippine Generations, visit www.philippinegenerations.org

• To find out more about events in the Filipino Community, look at www.fil-event.com

Are you a Filipino or second-generation Filipino in London? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

Karolina Kolodziej from the Polish Cultural Institute tells us where to find a taste of Poland in London for our World in London series.

Since 2004, the cultural picture of the UK’s capital has dramatically changed. “The Poles are coming!” the British newspapers shouted. And so we came… in quite big numbers actually (some estimated the total at one million!).

Polish shops (polski sklep) sprang up in every London borough and our rustling language can be heard on practically every street corner.

But our relationship with the UK goes way back and has for a long time influenced cultural life in the capital. Bonnie Prince Charlie was the son of James Francis Edward Stewart and Polish aristocrat Maria Klementyna Sobieska, daughter of the Polish King Jan III Sobieski.

Funnily enough, Poland Street in London’s Soho was named in honour of King Sobieski, who won the Battle of Vienna in 1683 defending Europe against the Ottoman Empire’s army.

The Second World War saw the Polish flying aces fighting in the Battle of Britain and our mathematicians helping to break the Enigma code. After the war, Polish soldiers and their families settled down in the UK, many of them in London, choosing areas such as Ealing and Hammersmith to build their new lives.

The next generations became prominent individuals in the capital’s cultural life, from composers, musicians, artists, to museum and gallery directors, film producers and directors, designers, architects… the list goes on.

So find your Polish London! Here are a few clues on how to discover it:

Try our food delicacies. Be brave and venture into one of London’s many Polish shops, buy some kieÅ‚basa (polish name for sausage) for the barbeque and try our bread.

Visit one of the Polish restaurants. We highly recommend Baltic in Southwark or The Knaypa in Hammersmith, which serve modern Polish cuisine and great vodka cocktails.

See some Polish contemporary art. Works of PaweÅ‚ Althamer, Zbigniew Libera, MirosÅ‚aw BaÅ‚ka, Wilhelm Sasnal and Artur Å»mijewski can be seen in Tate Modern as well commercial galleries such as Gagosian or White Cube. You can also check out London’s branch of Warsaw gallery Lokal 30.

Look out for Polish classical and jazz music. Our orchestras, bands and soloists visit the UK capital very regularly with concerts in venues such as the Barbican, Southbank Centre or Wigmore Hall.

Every March, we host the Polish Film Festival Kinoteka with the crème de la crème of Polish cinematography being screened at the Riverside Studios, Prince Charles Cinema, BFI Southbank and the Barbican.

Don’t forget to grab a Polish read. Books by established writers such as MiÅ‚osz, KapuÅ›ciÅ„ski and Mrożek, as well as contemporaries including Huelle, Tokarczuk and Krajewski, are available in every good bookshop. And for a real literary treat, visit the British Library and ask for the Polish Collection, to see the historical gems as old as 15th century.

So no excuses - Polish London is out there and within easy reach!

Check out the Polish Cultural Institute website www.PolishCulture.org.uk for regular updates on what’s to come. And let us know your Polish London recommendations below…

Next up in our World in London challenge, we’ve called on Portuguese blogger Catherine Lencastre Cabral, author of the gorgeous London Lisbonite blog, to tell us about her best places for enjoying a piece of Portugal in London.

Portugal is a nation cheerfully and completely obsessed with food.

Lost your job? Eat your own body weight in the lovely creamy custard tarts we call pasteis de nata (the best in London can be found in the Lisboa Patisserie on Golborne Road).

Had your heart broken? Go to your mother’s house and you’ll have litres of homemade soup poured down your throat.

Enjoying a rare sunny day in London? The Portuguese will celebrate with you by shoving half a cow on your plate and beaming at you over the pile.

Generosity and hospitality are two of the most highly-prized Portuguese characteristics. This can be slightly overwhelming for the first-time visitor, who might be somewhat taken aback by the size of the portions and the vehemence with which they’ll be encouraged to clear their plate. Food also serves as a useful marker for time. Ask a Portuguese person what time they’d like to meet you somewhere and they’ll pin the time to the nearest meal.

Over the last decade, Stockwell has come to be known as the “Little Lisbon” of London. Portuguese flags line the streets and every other bar has a Super Bock sign in the window. The best place to try traditional Portuguese food is O Moinho on the Wandsworth Road.

Start with a Chouriço Assado, which is a spicy sausage that’s brought to your table on a flameproof dish and set on fire.

If that hasn’t satisfied your appetite for dramatic food, follow it with an Espetada a Madeirense. An enormous hanging metal spit will be placed next to you so that you can pull off the meat bit by bit. Alternatively, cook your own meat, from raw, on a piping hot stone by ordering the Naco na Pedra.

After that, I heartily recommend that you try the camel drool (Baba de Camelo), an extremely sweet creamy pudding made with condensed milk.

Then, make like a true Portuguese and finish the meal with an espresso and perhaps a couple of crackers spread with the sharp and gooey Queijo de Serra from the mountains. Portuguese perfection.

Do you have a favourite place for buying Portuguese food in London? Let us know in the comments below…