Young filmmakers' project paints multidimensional portrait of China

The 2025 Looking China Youth Film Project concluded with a screening ceremony at Beijing Normal University recently, wrapping up a three-month cultural exchange that brought together 103 young filmmakers and 10 mentors from 35 countries.

The participants created 103 short documentaries across China. Through immersive experiences and storytelling, the films captured a multidimensional portrait of China including natural landscapes and culinary traditions.

Kang Zhen, vice-president of Beijing Normal University, said the project plays a crucial role in promoting mutual understanding between Chinese and foreign cultures, highlighting the filmmakers' focus on key themes such as rural vitalization, intangible cultural heritage, and digital empowerment.

Huang Huilin, founder of the project and dean of the Academy for International Communication of Chinese Culture, said the project is a platform for shared storytelling and has attracted growing participation of global students and faculty with deep connections to China.

The six representative films that were screened include The Green Bamboo Slips Society by Carlos Angel Luppi of Argentina, which explores the cultural value of independent bookstores in the digital era.

Closest to the Heart by American director Lina Asmara Barclay portrays the legacy of accordion music as a bridge across ethnic and linguistic divides in Tacheng in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Where the sea ends by Jon Kareaga Mancisidor of Spain focuses on an offshore aquaculture platform, using immersive visuals to contrast the lives of caged fish beneath the water with those of the divers working above, exploring themes of yearning for freedom.

Wang Yiwei, a professor at Renmin University of China said the films explored China's dual identity, rooted in tradition yet embracing modernization. Jin Haina from Communication University of China praised the young filmmakers for using visual storytelling to overcome cultural barriers and present a China where past and present coexist.