By CCTV.com reporter Chen Yunuo

Looking China Youth Film Project screening ceremony was held July 28 at Beijing Normal University (BNU). Diplomatic envoys of many countries’ embassies in China—including India, Argentina, Portugal, Canada—representatives of the hosts, specialists and scholars from culture and film & TV circles, college students and teachers participated in the project, and media guests were present.

Main screen of the ceremony exhibits the theme of 2016 Looking China Project. Looking China Youth Film Project screening ceremony was held July 28 at Beijing Normal University (BNU).

Hosted by the Academy for International Communication of Chinese Culture of BNU (AICCC) and sponsored by Huilin Foundation, Looking China is a cross-cultural experience program for Chinese and foreign youths that has been successfully run for six editions and is gaining influence both in China and abroad.

The project aims to expand Chinese culture’s influence and attraction through the unique perspectives of young foreign filmmakers who would each make 10-minute documentaries of Chinese culture.

With the theme of “Charm, Ethnic, and Culture” this year, 101 college filmmakers from 25 countries—including the USA, the UK, France, Israel and Italy—went to 13 provinces and cities of China, meeting the peoples of 24 Chinese ethnic groups, exploring local lifestyles and customs, experiencing China’s ethnic culture, and finally delivering 101 short documentary films that reflect China in their eyes.

Representative college students and teachers participated in the project attend the 2016 Looking China Youth Film Project screening ceremony.

Vice president of BNU Chen Guangju said that Looking Chinahas become a splendid “ rainbow bridge” that connects the culture of China and other countries. He also elaborated on the theme of “Charm, Ethnic, and Culture,” saying that culture and civilization are collective memories of a nationality. Although different nations differ in culture and ideology, they all deserve recognition and respect.

Vice president of BNU Chen Guangju speaks at the screening ceremony.

Emeritus professor of Beijing Normal University, dean of AICCC, and founder of Huilin Foundation Huang Huilin gave a speech and stressed that the project aims to provide a platform for in-depth experience of Chinese culture as well as promoting cultural communication and exchange.

Emeritus professor of BNU, Dean of AICCC, and Founder of Huilin Foundation Huang Huilin gives a speech at the screening ceremony.

Six films were presented as representatives in the ceremony, such as:

Portraits for You by Pedro Nishiyama from Brazil about a little girl and her relation with the culture of her nationality, the Xibe nationality;

Search for the Manchus by Evan Luchkow from Canada to discover what contemporary Manchu culture looks like against the backdrop of a rapidly modernizing China;

The Horse Land by Dmitry Knooploy from Israel, which tells stories of three herdsmen living in Wushen Banner who try to preserve Mongolian horse culture in their daily life.

Culture counsellor of the Argentine Embassy in China Juan Manuel Cortelletti, director & professor of department of anthropology & ethnography of China Academy of Social Management and school of sociology of BNU Xiao Fang share their reflection and feelings on the films showed. Cortelletti said he was much obliged to the hosts of the project and very proud to know Argentine filmmaking teams participated in the screening ceremony, and he will bring the short films back to Argentina for screening.

Culture counsellor of the Argentine Embassy in China Juan Manuel Cortelletti

Foreign team-led teachers also express their experiences throughout the Looking Chinajourney. Israeli film director Steuer Dov Boris said China is a great country with diverse culture and landscape and thus calling for more understanding from foreign people, and he has gained highly valuable thinking during the process and enjoyed it very much.

Film director and instructor of Israel Tel Aviv University Steuer Dov Boris is speaking at the ceremony.

Film director and instructor of Prague Film School in Czech Republic James Edward Duff is giving a speech at the ceremony.

By the end of the ceremony, the distinguished guests awarded commemorative certificate to the foreign college filmmakers, Chinese college volunteers, and team-led teachers to appreciate their effort throughout and contributions to the project.

Chinese college volunteers are awarded commemorative certificate.

 Chinese and foreign team-led teachers are awarded commemorative certificate.

It is announced that all works of 2016 Looking China program will be showcased via channels like the Internet and overseas screenings, as well as participate in follow-ups such as international contests and “Golden Lenses” award that set up by the hosts and to be awarded in November to further extend Chinese culture’s international influence.