Seychelles invited to take part in 2013 Sichuan TV festival |21 November 2011

Held every two years in Chengdu, the festival is one of the leading Chinese events in this field, established in 1991 and attended this year by all Chinese TV and cable TV channels as well as a large number of media and film production companies from China and 71 countries.

Being the only African ambassador present in Chengdu on that day, Ambassador Le Gall was invited to receive the prize awarded to South Africa during the “Golden Panda Award Ceremony”.

Seychelles’ ambassador was also the guest of honour of the African Animation Day during which entries from 15 African countries were presented to an international audience.

Ambassador Le Gall delivered a key speech focusing on the future of cultural industries at global level and in China and Africa in particular. The ambassador also took this opportunity during his interactions with Chinese officials and film directors and producers to introduce Seychelles as an ideal movie shooting location for both documentary and fiction – a promising niche market according to Seychelles’ envoy who considers that the country’s resources in this domain are not yet fully tapped.

In speaking with the ambassador, the organisers of the festival strongly and enthusiastically recommended that Seychelles enters the next competition in 2013; an official invitation to that effect will follow.