The 9th annual Asian Film Festival was inaugurated at the residence of Japanese Consul-General Matahiro Yamaguchi in Jeddah on Thursday.

The 9th annual Asian Film Festival, organized by the Asian Consuls-General Club (ACGC), kicked off with the Japanese film “Always Sunset on Third Street” at the residence of Matahiro Yamaguchi, consul general of Japan, in Jeddah on Thursday.

The film festival consists of 13 Asian countries; 10 movies from Pakistan, South Korea, China, Sri Lanka, India, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia will be screened.

At the festival opening, more than 300 invitees, including Saudi dignitaries, diplomats and movie lovers, attended the ceremony and enjoyed delicious Japanese snacks and softdrinks.

The consuls-general unveiled the film festival logo, and Dharmakirty Syailendra Putra, consul general of Indonesia and coordinator of ACGC for 2016, welcomed the guests.

“Film or movies is one aspect of country’s culture; it is a reflection of the way of life and the imagination of its people. The art of film is improving everyday. The films to be shown during the festival will be from Asian countries which are members of the ACGC in Jeddah,” said Yamaguchi, who extended his heartfelt gratitude to the consul-general of Indonesia for his efforts in launching the 2016 festival.

Yamaguchi gave a briefing about the Japanese feature movie “Always Sunset on Third Street,” a drama directed by Takashi Yamazaki, winner of nine awards. The film tells the story of a few people who live and work in a rundown neighborhood, and their impact on each other’s lives.

“It is ultimately easy for us to believe that the Third Street community and these characters are real. The relationships between them are reasonably developed and eventually lead to a powerful and heart-wrenching, yet warm ending,” said Yamaguchi.

The plot of the film, which moves around everyday difficulties and joys, is two stories woven together.

A girl from the countryside takes a job in the big city, Tokyo, at Suzuki Auto and discovers that her workplace is actually a small garage on Third Street in Tokyo’s down-at-heel Yuhi District that lies behind Tokyo Tower, and that her company has no connection to the vast automobile empire.

On Friday, the Pakistani film, “Malala,” was screened, while Saturday, Feb. 27, is booked for South Korean family drama, “How to Steal a Dog.” On March 2 will be the screening for the famous Italian film, “The Name of the Rose.”

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