The 9th Togo International Film Festival and China Film Week commenced on Tuesday in Lome, the capital of Togo. This five-day event, themed “Telling Our Realities: African Cinema in Local Languages and Everyday Narratives,” highlights films that reflect African cultural and linguistic experiences.
At the festival’s opening ceremony, Togo’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Arts, Issac Tchiakpe, expressed his appreciation for China’s support. He noted that the Togo International Film Festival is evolving into a significant cultural event with a growing international reach.
Minister Tchiakpe emphasised Togo’s commitment to strengthening cultural and interpersonal ties with China, aiming to enhance bilateral relations through this festival.
Chinese Ambassador to Togo, Wang Min, also spoke at the opening, praising the role of films in fostering understanding between civilisations. She remarked that films not only tell stories and showcase artistry but also embody a nation’s passion for life, beauty, and future aspirations. The festival serves as a vital platform for promoting mutual understanding and consensus between China and Africa.
As this year marks the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, Ambassador Wang expressed China’s eagerness to leverage cinema to deepen traditional friendships with Togo and to provide audiences in Togo and across Africa with a nuanced understanding of China.
This year’s festival includes two distinct competition categories. The international competition features 16 films: eight documentaries and eight fictional works from various countries, including Benin, Senegal, and France. Meanwhile, the national competition is dedicated to Togolese filmmakers and features 17 submissions, divided into five documentaries and 12 fiction films.
Additionally, the China Film Week, co-organised by the China Film Administration, the Chinese Embassy in Togo, Togo’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts, and the Togolese National Centre for Cinema and Animation, presents screenings of six Chinese films, among them “YOLO,” “The Wandering Earth 2,” and “My People, My Country.”
