China has renewed its pledge to strengthen cultural and cinematic collaboration with Nigeria as the acclaimed Chinese documentary Rooting was showcased on Tuesday at the ongoing Zuma International Film Festival in Abuja.
Speaking at a masterclass held ahead of the screening, Yang Jianxing, Cultural Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy and Director of the China Cultural Centre, said the event reflects the growing partnership between both countries’ film industries.
The masterclass was led by the film’s director, Ms. Chai Hongfang, and editor, Ms. Zhou Hongxia, who travelled from China to engage Nigerian filmmakers.
Yang noted that Nollywood’s annual output of around 2,500 films places it second in the world, while China’s cinematic sector—now home to more than 90,000 screens—recorded a box office of about $6 billion in 2024.
“The Zuma Film Festival is not only a platform for Nigerian creatives but also a significant avenue for cultural exchange and mutual learning between different societies,” he said.
Yang added that the designation of 2026 as the China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges is expected to drive even deeper cooperation in filmmaking and broader cultural collaboration.
The documentary Rooting, which took four years to produce, follows the struggles and transformation of the Nu people in a remote community in Yunnan Province. It documents their transition out of poverty through targeted government programs aimed at improving rural livelihoods. Yang described the film as a powerful reflection of China’s poverty-alleviation experience, one that aligns with Nigeria’s own development aspirations.
On his part, Wang Wenfei, Chief Executive Officer of China Harbour Engineering Company (Nigeria) Ltd., said film remains a vital tool for promoting understanding across cultures.
He noted that China Harbour’s 30-year presence in Nigeria marked by major projects such as the Lekki Deep Seaport and the Keffi–Makurdi–Enugu highway expansion, mirrors the spirit of long-term cooperation that the festival seeks to deepen.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Ali Nuhu, said engagement with Chinese filmmakers is already yielding practical benefits. He explained that Nigerian creatives stand to learn innovative techniques through the masterclass and other exchange activities. Nuhu added that Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy is already working with Chinese partners on joint film projects that will feature talent from both nations.
The 2025 Zuma International Film Festival, organised by the Nigerian Film Corporation, will also screen SHENZHOU 13, a documentary filmed aboard China’s space station.
The annual festival brings together filmmakers from Nigeria, Africa, and beyond, offering opportunities for collaboration, knowledge-sharing and exposure to emerging trends in global filmmaking.
