Cinéma-Tanzania - The 6th Asian Film Festival opens today at the New World Cinema in Dar es Salaam on Friday. The event is co-hosted by the Asian Diplomats' Culture Forum. At least ten countries are expected to participate in the festival, which is organised by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Tanzania. Apart from China, the Festival which initially started since 2006 involves South Korea, Japan, Pakistan, Vietman, Palestine, Iran, Indonesia, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Representatives from the organizing countries told reporters at a press conference in Dares Salaam on Thursday that they will run freely for ten days consecutively and viewers will be served on the first-come first serve basis.

The aim of the festival in which ten films will be screened aims at fostering a better and closer appreciation of the uniqueness, harmony and diversity of the Asian cultures and to promote the cultural exchange and co-operation between Asian countries and Tanzania.

The Pakistan Official Aki El Ahmada said in a statement that his country will have its firm; Salt of the Sea on the screen which will show how the Palestinians maintain their sentimental ties with their ancestral homeland wherever they may be.

'This firm should bee seen by all interested and committed to social justice, freedom and humanity and who want to know the life of Palestinians whose land has been occupied, as a result they have been turned into virtual refugees all over the world,' he said.

Initially, he said it is a film about Israel occupation of Palestine and problems encountered by Palestinians from day to day and not only those who are inside the occupied territories but also the Diaspora.

The Cultural Counsellor at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the country Liu Dong told the 'Daily News' that his country was ready for the initiatives that will see the film industry contribute fairly to the country's economic development.

He said China was willing to support Tanzania in improving the film industry through cultural festivals to be arranged between the two countries.

He challenged Dar to keep on supporting the firm industry and promote cultural activities as well as local artists with different educational background so that they can benefit from the sector.

He said the Embassy was currently working with the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) to translate 30 Chinese films that will be shown later in Kiswahili for many local Tanzanians to learn from their Chinese counterparts.

'We are interested in exchanging and promoting cultural heritage and we can always talk with the ministry officials on how we make this plan a reality,' he said.

He was speaking shortly after ten Asian countries announced the 2011 Asian Film Festival to take place for ten consecutive days from today.

Pius Rugonzibwa

Tanzania Daily News/15/04/2011