A film has been produced uncovering the life of the founder of the first Tibetan monastery in the west who was brutally murdered.

The premiere of Akong - A Remarkable Life - which tells the story Dr Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche - was shown at the monastery, in Eskdalemuir, earlier this month and was attended by around 250 guests.

However, further screenings are now planned, one of which will be held next month at the Buccleuch Centre, off Thomas Telford Road, in Langholm.

The film is the creation of London-based director Chico Dall’Inha, who revealed he first met Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche after converting to Buddhism.

He worked alongside producer Jorg Wagner, cinematographer Gerry McCulloch and executive producer Vin Harris.

“I first visited Samye Ling in 2004 for a visit,” he explained.

“I converted myself in 2002 or 2003 and through my visits I became friends with Choje Akong Tulku.”

Akong was stabbed to death by a disgruntled former employee while visiting China in 2013, but Chico said he had already discussed the possibility of documenting his life prior to his death.

“I soon discovered that he was a remarkable man,” Chico said. “I’ve always been interested in making films about spirituality and as I got to know Choje Akong Tulku, I realised that he would be a good person to document.”

Choje Akong Tulku is credited with introducing western people to Tibetan religion and culture and founded the monastery at Eskdalemuir in 1967, along with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche having arrived in England four years earlier to study English at Oxford.

In 1959 Choje Akong Tulku fled to India following political unrest in Tibet. Leading a 300-strong party, the group endured a 10-month journey through the Himalayas, with only 13 members making it all the way.

“It was an awful ordeal, and Choje Akong Tulku lost his brother on the way,” Chico added.

“Details about that journey are told in the film and it was a very interesting and emotional part of his life.”

Chico said that the film’s premiere in Eskdalemuir was well-received and encouraged people from across Langholm and beyond to go and see it.

“He was such a great man,” he said.

“The film doesn’t cover his death, because it’s not something that we wanted to focus on. He had a big impact on so many people and was always so willing to help others as well.”

Akong - A Remarkable Life will be shown at the Buccleuch Centre on Tuesday, April 25 at 7.30pm.

They are priced at £7 each and £5 for concessions and can be bought by contacting the Buccleuch Centre on 01387 381 196.