China to foster global cultural dialogue through film, television productions

The organisers of China’s Biennial Golden Panda Awards on Tuesday unveiled plans to continually foster global cultural dialogue through film and television productions.

Organised by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the People’s Government of Sichuan Province, the event serves as a key platform for cultural exchange, bringing together filmmakers, actors and audiences from different backgrounds.

According to Xie Li, Member of the Organising Committee of the 2025 Golden Panda Awards, the event aims to promote mutual learning through selection of film and television works.

Xie spoke in Beijing during a news conference organised to highlight achievements of the first Golden Panda Awards held in 2023 and the arrangement for the 2025 edition.

Xie said the inaugural edition attracted 7,024 works from 104 countries, noting that foreign works accounted for 70 per cent.

She said that 60 per cent of the award-winning works came from international creators.

This statistics, she said, demonstrated the international influence of the Golden Panda Awards.

With 27 awards in four categories – film, television drama, documentary and animation – covering best picture, best director, and best screenplay, among others, the second edition will kick off in Chengdu, Sichuan Province on Sept. 12.

It will showcase films from around the world, emphasising China’s commitment to bridging cultures through storytelling.

With a focus on mutual understanding, the event also aims to celebrate artistic excellence while strengthening international ties in the film industry and adhering to professional standards of collecting and selecting works that manifest the shared values of mankind.

Gao Zhongwei, Deputy Director of the Golden Panda Awards Organising Committee Office, said that 1,788 works had so far been submitted for the second edition.

“Seventy-one are films, 385 are TV dramas, 854 are documentaries and 478 are animations,” he said.

Gao said that 1,373 foreign works accounted for 77 per cent, spanning 104 countries and regions across five continents.

“The submitted works should be outstanding film and television works premiered or screened between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2025.”

He also said that the awards differed from others in three ways, adding that it was professional, international and comprehensive.

According to him, the jury is composed of internationally-renowned film and television experts to ensure professionalism in the evaluation process and authoritativeness of results.

The jury pool, he said, spanned five continents, with overseas experts accounting for more than 40 per cent.

“The registration deadline is April 25, 2025, and we sincerely desire participation of more film and television institutions and industry associations,” he said.