The China Film Festival, a collaborative effort by the China Film Administration and the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, commenced with a grand inaugural ceremony at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos on Monday. The event was graced by esteemed guests from both nations.
The event was marked by captivating cultural performances delivered by the Huaxing Art Troupe Nigeria, which enthralled the audience and established the foundation for a memorable affair.
Additionally, the audience was left spellbound by a captivating live performance by the gifted actress Ms. Zhu Hongxing, known for her role as Xiaoqing in the critically acclaimed film White Snake. Her performance offered a tantalizing peek into the enchanting world of Chinese cinema.
Following the opening speeches, the commencement film titled Cloudy Mountain was showcased, evoking both applause and emotional reactions from the viewers. The movie portrays the courage and selflessness of the railway engineering corps as they confront geological calamities, prioritizing the safety and rescue of countless lives above their own. The film eloquently embodies the core principle of valuing life and prioritizing people, resonating strongly with the ethos of Chinese rescue operations.
The China Film Festival is set to feature a selection of eleven diverse Chinese films spanning a range of genres, including action, animation, opera, and documentary, among others. These films serve as a mirror to the dynamic Chinese culture, showcasing its richness and vitality, while also capturing the evolution and societal transformations taking place within the country.
The movie selection comprises an action-packed film titled Ride On, featuring the beloved Jackie Chan, a figure well-received by African viewers.
Additionally, there’s an animated creation named “I am what I am”, which beautifully portrays the Chinese traditional tale of lion dance.
Furthermore, a Cantonese opera production titled White Snake elegantly captures the essence of Chinese cultural traditions, and lastly, a documentary titled Beijing 2022 chronicles the triumph of last year’s Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Speaking at the event, Yan Yuqing said, “The prosperity of civilisation and human progress will not be possible without enhancing common ground, openness and inclusiveness as well as exchange and mutual learning and reserving differences among them.”
“This year’s China Film Festival in Lagos, Nigeria, aims to practice the Global Civilisation Initiative, to implement the China-Africa cultural and people-to-people exchange program. This Film Festival is also to strengthen China-Nigeria cultural exchanges and film-making cooperation, so as to share Chinese harmony and perform Nigeria-China symphony and enhance the mutual comprehension between our two countries.”
Also, the Executive Deputy Director General, Bureau of Films, the Department of the CPC Central Committee, Mr. Mao Yu said, “We are confident that Chinese film industry has embarked on steady high-quality development and will continue to deliver as a major driver and contributor to the global market.”
“We believe mutual film festivals will become a new starting point for deepening China-Nigeria film exchanges and cooperation, which will inject new momentum into the development of the global film market and make new contributions to promoting a high-level China-Africa community of a shared future.”
Present at the opening ceremony were dignitaries and important figures such as Executive Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, H.E. Hu Heping; Minister of Culture and Tourism of China, Ms. YAN Yuqing; Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Mr. Mao Yu; Executive Deputy Director General, Bureau of Films, the Department of the CPC Central Committee; Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Otunba Segun Runsewe; Leader of the Delegation from Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Nigeria, Ms. Hajia Zainab Ali-Biu; and former Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, and representatives of Lagos State Government, Mr. Femi Adeshina.
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