Capturing Beijing through the viewfinder

The winning script "You, Me and Beijing" is made into movies in Beijing.[Photo/China Daily]

Selander had never been to China before. Most of his impressions of Beijing were based on what he had read. So there's no wonder he could write anecdotes like having the kids of his film eat Tanghulu — a traditional snack of candied fruit on skewers popular in winter — while the story happens in summer.

Among the 15 winners at the competition award ceremony, Selander is one of the few who had come to Beijing for the first time; most others already had connections with China, including Cameron White from Princeton.

White has studied Chinese for eight years. His fluency makes it easy to communicate with his Chinese producer Huang Han, also a student from Beijing Film Academy.

"He knows China so well that I have no difficulty talking with him," says Huang.

White writes of a talented flutist who come to Beijing to pursue her music dream. The girl from a regional city finally finds that a life spent in a practice room will not ensure her success.

Special: 2013 Beijing International Screenwriting Competition