On December 18, the award ceremony of the 3rd "Beijing - A Global City" Short Video Contest was held at the China National Film Museum. A total of 32 works won the first, second, and third prizes, as well as Outstanding Individual Award and Individual Award. Additionally, 15 institutions, including the School of Languages and Communication of Beijing Technology and Business University, were honored with the Outstanding Organization Award.
This contest was hosted by the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, organized by CRI Online of China Media Group, and supervised for the first time by the Bureau of Public Information and Communication of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. Beijing residents, international friends who love Beijing, and organizations in the city were invited to submit their excellent works that capture wonderful moments with the camera and present Beijing as an international city that is vibrant, colorful, and hospitable.
Since its launch on May 31, the contest has attracted participants from over 100 countries and regions, including Australia, Egypt, Russia, the United States, Spain, and Vietnam. More than 260 entries were received, showcasing a richer variety of content, more creative expressions, and more emotionally captivating stories than in previous editions.
Short but aesthetically pleasing, these videos cover various subjects, ranging from the ancient capital to the dual Olympic city, from green and low-carbon development to the city of the future, from intangible cultural heritage to the capital of culture, and from the cafes in the hutongs to the stories of foreign friends starting businesses in alleys. They portray a trendy Beijing through delicate camera language, reflect the progress of the times through the fusion of tradition and modernity, present the internationalized government affairs environment, and highlight the welcoming and livable environment of Beijing through the personal experiences of foreign friends.
Audiences at the venue
Participants depict everyday life through the art of light and shadow. Their works served as a microcosm of Beijing's remarkable progress in improving its role as the center for international exchanges on the new journey of Chinese modernization and strengthening its international image through open cooperation. They showed Beijing's international image from different aspects, vividly presenting Beijing as a multicultural global city that blends tradition and modernity.
Representatives of First Prize winners
Representatives of Second Prize winners
Representatives of Third Prize winners
Representatives of Outstanding Individual Award winners
Representatives of Individual Award winners
Representatives of Outstanding Organization Award winners
Representatives of Outstanding Organization Award winners
As a highlight of the contest, eight photo shooting events were organized with themes such as "international community", "international cultural and artistic exchange", and "functional areas of key industries". Diplomats, foreign journalists, foreign experts residing in Beijing, international students, and foreign social media influencers were invited to visit places such as the Liangma River International Style Waterfront, the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Yanqi Lake International Conference Resort, and Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA). They were able to witness Beijing's achievements in improving its role as the center for international exchange as well as the city's high-level opening-up and high-quality development.
Experts sharing insights
On behalf of the expert judges, Professor Guo Yanmin from the Communication University of China and Justyna Szpakowska, an international producer and media planner from Poland, presented an overall introduction to the works and shared their thoughts on the judging process at the award ceremony. Based on experts' review, the first prize went to two works titled "Dream Chaser in Zhongguancun" and "Beijing - Strings - Affection". Five videos including "Bon Voyage on a Bamboo Bicycle" claimed the runner-up spot. Ten entries like "City Walk in Fengtai" came in third place. Additionally, 15 other submissions, including "You've Got a Letter from Beijing", received the Outstanding Individual Award and the Individual Award.
Representatives of prize winners delivering speeches
Going forward, to better tell the stories of Beijing as a global city, the award-winning works will be showcased on various channels, such as the official website and WeChat account of Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, the CRI Online website and other domestic and foreign social media platforms. These works will also be promoted during occasions such as sister-city exchanges, international conferences, and people-to-people exchanges.
First Prize
Second Prize
Third Prize
Outstanding Individual Award
Individual Award
Outstanding Organization Award
Further information
"Beijing - A Global City" Short Video Contest is a flagship event aimed at shaping and showcasing the international image of Beijing. Over the past three years, it has attracted thousands of participants from home and abroad to capture and express the stories of Beijing through their lenses. With a more vivid, lively, and personalized approach, they employ storytelling, creativity, and emotion-evoking expressions in line with the rules of new media communication, allowing viewers to fully appreciate the unique charms that define Beijing as a global city.
