As the Nigeria Film Corporation gets set to participate in attend the Cairo International Film Festival holding in the Egyptian capital later this month, the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sheriff Naguib, has promised to build a bridge to connect Nigerian and Egyptian filmmakers to promote the cultures of both nations.

Naguib disclosed this when NFC Managing Director, Mr. Afolabi Adesanya, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja recently.

According to a statement signed by the corporation‘s Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Brian Etuk, Naguib expressed his convictions that Nigerian films, popularly known as Nollywood, had positioned the country as a hub for film production and entertainment on the African continent. The ambassador said that he was highly impressed by the development and success story of the Nigeria motion picture industry, and the giant strides it has made over the past years.

In his remarks at the occasion, Adesanya informed his host that the Nigerian motion picture industry had recorded tremendous success within the last few years due to the resilience of film practitioners and the efforts of the NFC, the National Film and Video Censors Board and the Nigerian Copyright Commission, agencies whose activities go a long way in creating the environment for the development of the industry.

The NFC boss informed the ambassador that, already, the Spanish, French, Indian, Chinese and America Embassies and High Commissions had been very supportive of the corporation‘s efforts towards repositioning the industry.

During the visit, issues of Nigeria‘s participating at the 33rd edition of the Cairo International film festival scheduled for November 18 to 28 in Egypt was also discussed. The Ambassador, who was elated that Nigeria will be participating in the film festival for the first time, assured that the Embassy would ensure that Nigeria‘s participation gets the attention it deserves.