…as China, Korea, Turkey, Japan and Iran celebrate 7th film festival, culture in Abuja

By Favour Ulebor, Abuja

The Director of the China Cultural Centre and Cultural Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, Yang Jianxing, has said that Asia and Africa are close neighbours, adding that the festival serves as a historic moment for strengthening ties between both continents.

He said this during the 7th Asian Film Festival, which held from Monday to Wednesday at the China Cultural Centre in Wuse, Abuja, drawing ambassadors, cultural officials and cinema enthusiasts for three days of film screenings and cultural exchange.

Welcoming the audience, he described the festival as a cultural bridge, noting that “culture is our life, culture is our print, footprint. And film is a very important part of the culture.”

According to him, cinema allows people to understand that even though humans may live differently.

He said, “we are the same human being, but we have a little different lifestyle.”

He added that the festival gives Nigerians, whom he called a very great country, very friendly country for Asian countries, an opportunity to learn more about the cultures of Asia.

He also expressed gratitude to the embassies of participating countries.

He said, “Every year, your embassy is very passionate to gather Asian countries, your neighbor’s country, to show Asia’s beauty, Asia’s charm to Nigerian friends.”

He thanked the Korean Embassy and Korean Cultural Centre for their background work, and explained that this year’s Chinese film demonstrated cross cultural creativity.

The Director of the Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Mr. Jeon Juho, praised the long running festival, saying it has helped Nigerians better understand Asia since its launch in 2017.

He noted that this year’s films transcend their language and border, connecting us together through shared values.

Korea’s entry, The Way Home, was described as a gentle and heartfelt story that beautifully portrays rural life and universal bonds of family.

Representing Turkey, the Ambassador of Turkey to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, highlighted the significance of the festival for strengthening ties.

He said, “Events like this remind us how cinema builds bridges of understanding between nations,” while announcing Turkey’s film, My Father and My Son, which explores family healing after the 1980 military coup.

Japan’s Charge d’Affaires, Mr. Kozaki Hitoshi, said the event was a unique opportunity for Nigerians to appreciate the rich cinematic traditions of Asia.

He emphasised that cinema is a valuable cultural medium that enables us to share our emotions beyond difference in language and background, noting that Asia has a wide range of rich cinematic works rooted in its long history and culture.

The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Gholamreza Mahdavi Raga, explained that the festival was not just a film showcase but a platform for promoting peace and understanding.

He said, “Today, we are gathered not only to celebrate cinema, but also celebrate cultural dialogue, mutual understanding and friendship among nations.”

He added that films are reflections of societies, expressions of human emotions and bridges of understanding between people and nations.

Films from China, Iran, Japan, South Korea and Turkey were screened across the three days, each highlighting themes such as family, cultural identity, resilience and human connection.

One of the most anticipated films was The Way Home from South Korea. The film tells the emotional journey of a seven year old boy whose rough, city influenced behaviour softens after staying with his mute grandmother in a rural village. His transformation from a rude child to a compassionate grandson moved many in the Abuja audience.

The festival closed with renewed calls for cultural cooperation, as diplomats agreed that cinema remains a powerful tool for building understanding between nations.