Short film festival a launchpad for emerging creatives

Video and photos by Lin Songtao

The 14th China International New Media Short Film Festival was unveiled last night at the Guangming Cultural and Art Center in Guangming District.

Spaniards Aitor Arenas (L), an advisor for the 14th China International New Media Short Film Festival, Ane Inés Landeta (2nd L) and Lorea Lyons (2nd R), winners of the Documentary of the Year Award, pose with a representative of Guangzhou firm 19th Anime Culture, which won the Animated Short Film of the Year Award, during an award ceremony on the festival’s opening day at the Guangming Culture and Art Center, Guangming District, yesterday. 

Established as China's premier national and international short film festival, this event, running since 2010, has been a launchpad for numerous emerging film and television creatives, nurturing a plethora of high-quality projects.

The festival also saw the remarkable journey of Jiaozi (real name Yang Yu), whose exceptional work in "Ne Zha 2" propelled him to the top spot among Chinese directors. Jiaozi's debut animated short film at the first festival in 2010, "See Through," clinched the coveted Jury's Award.

The evolution from a 16-minute award-winning short film to the blockbuster success of "Ne Zha 2" highlights the pivotal role the festival plays in unearthing talent, fostering creativity, and promoting cultural integration.Aitor Arenas from Spain, a renowned director and an advisor for the China International New Media Short Film Festival, shares his thoughts about the festival at the event's opening ceremony last night.

Aitor Arenas from Spain, a renowned director in the industry and an advisor for the festival, expressed appreciation for the festival's impact on future industry luminaries like Jiaozi, stating, "I think it's a very good example of what this festival is doing and what we expect from short films. We expect the directors of the future.

“I think that's the example of directors who started in a short film festival and now are making millions at the box office. So, I love it."

Lorea Lyons (1st L) and Ane Inés Landeta (2nd L) from Spain, winners of the Documentary of the Year Award, walk the red carpet with two other award winners.

Ane Inés Landeta and Lorea Lyons from Spain, winners of the Documentary of the Year Award, shared their enthusiasm, noting, "This festival gives directors skills and recognition, paving the way for future success."

The festival received an impressive 3,448 submissions from 119 countries and regions, underscoring its global appeal and significance.

The prestigious "KingBonn Night" ceremony revealed the "KingBonn Director Support Plan" awards, honoring excellence in categories such as Documentary of the Year, Animation Short Film of the Year, College Student Short Film of the Year, Drama Short Film of the Year, among others.

"Azkena" by Ane Inés Landeta and Lorea Lyons is selected as Documentary of the Year.

Noteworthy selections included "The Man Who Could Remain Silent" by Croatian director Nebojsa Slijepcevic for Drama Short Film of the Year, "Azkena" by Spanish directors Ane Inés Landeta and Lorea Lyons for Documentary of the Year, and "Time Bell" by Guangzhou 19th Amine Culture for Animation Short Film of the Year.

The festival, which runs until Sunday, features a diverse array of events, including the National Micro Short Drama Enterprise Forum, the GBA Short Film Creation Tour activities, the GBA Audiovisual Creation and Investment Conference, among others.

Hong Kong actor Ray Lui walks the red carpet at the ceremony. 

Breaking new ground, this year's edition of the festival coincided with the China (Shenzhen) International TV Drama Trade Fair, uniting industry stalwarts from around the world to delve into the innovative convergence of "technology and film and television."

This collaboration not only strengthens the high-quality evolution of the film and television sector but also elevates Shenzhen's reputation and influence as a hub for premier cinematic works.

Through collaborative resource-sharing, industry partnerships, and global alliances, the festival injects a multi-dimensional growth impetus into China's film and television drama industry and online audiovisual sector.

Director Hu Mei, whose works include TV drama "Yong Zheng Wang Chao," walk the red carpet at the ceremony. 

The "KingBonn Night" ceremony not only honored outstanding short films but also heralded the launch of the "Follow Micro Short Dramas for Popular Science" initiative. Led by key industry bodies, this initiative aims to fuse micro-short dramas with popular science knowledge and inspire scientific workers to create popular science content, contributing to enhanced scientific literacy nationwide.

The night also saw the establishment of the Shenzhen Micro-Short Drama Industry Alliance, spearheaded by industry leaders like Tencent and Honor, marking a pivotal moment in consolidating high-quality resources and fostering collaboration across the micro-short drama vertical.

As a tech city, Shenzhen's prowess in high-tech industries catalyzed initiatives at the festival to deepen the integration of technology and art. The AIGC Micro-Movie Creation Support Plan, unveiled during the ceremony, aims to showcase the application of generative AI in micro-movie creation, fueling creativity and innovation at the intersection of technology and art.

Guangming District also launched the 2025 Guangming Science City Science Fiction Short Film Competition, following the success of the inaugural "Creative Future" Science Fiction Short Film Competition in 2024. This competition seeks to attract science fiction short films from across the nation, further cementing Shenzhen's position as a thriving hub for cinematic creativity and innovation.