When Australian director Sam Voutas saw pirated copies of his first Chinese feature film Red Light Revolution on the streets of Beijing, he used the experience as a source of inspiration for his newest venture.

The mega-success in China of Amir Khan’s blockbuster, Dangal, has echoed strongly at the second BRICS festival, where filmmakers and actors brainstormed ways to collaborate in cinema to anchor the soft-power of the five nation grouping.

The Nigerian Government has urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take relations with Nigeria to greater heights. [...] The Minister says Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy is worthy of emulation by the countries.

"Film co-productions can help foster greater cultural exchange and understanding between two different countries, such as China and the United States," Hollywoord film director Julia Pierrepont III said at her home in Sunland, Los Angeles.

“The Year of Creative Collaboration aims to increase the visibility of the UK in the UAE and vice versa in order to give greater focus, depth and contemporary relevance to the long-standing relationship between our two nations. The unique cultural programme will strengthen existing relationships and broker new ones between our people, institutions and businesses,” said the British Council.

Since 2014, the Crosscut Asia non-competition category has been organized to increase Japan's cultural interaction with other countries in Asia. The category helps to strengthen the filmmakers network across Asia and their exchange with journalists and film critics. Each year, the festival focuses on one country. This year the festival is celebrating "Colorful Indonesia."

The Founder and Executive Director of the Black Star International Film Festival Juliet Asante, made this known at a press briefing in Accra. According to her, films are a source of national pride and identity, a cultural diplomacy tool; employment creator and also attracts investments. [...] According to her, the industry in Ghana is picking up fast.