University student film festival celebrates its 30th anniversary in spectacular style, as those instrumental in its establishment reminisce on its long-term success and ponder its legacy, Li Yingxue reports.

Huang Huilin (second from left), professor of Beijing Normal University, at the 30th College Student Film Festival's "Youth Night". (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

In 1993, 59-year-old Huang Huilin, a professor at Beijing Normal University, laid the foundations for the inaugural College Student Film Festival. In those early days, the films had to be transported by bicycle.

Eight years ago, during the festival, Zhang Ziwei, a second-year postgraduate student at the time, led her team in collecting over 2,000 original films created by college students nationwide. These films were submitted in hard copy format on DVD and mailed to her team.

Through the collective efforts of generations of students and faculty members at Beijing Normal University, this year, the festival celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Themed "stand to the light", this year's College Student Film Festival, as part of the Beijing International Film Festival, resumed in-person activities following the COVID-19 pandemic, and featured eight sections, including themed screenings, academic and cultural events, and a selection of original films by college students.

Post-screening Q&A for the film Like Father and Son. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Post-screening event for the movie Journey to the West. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

On May 4, Youth Day, the grand ceremony of the 30th College Student Film Festival's "Youth Night" was broadcast on prominent media platforms, including CCTV 6, China Central TV's film channel. The event saw the participation of nearly 1,000 students and representatives from academia, as well as the film industry and other associated sectors.

Eight awards were bestowed during the festival. The Wandering Earth II was honored as the most popular film of the year among college students, while Zhang Yimou received the accolade of most popular director.

The organizing committee has meticulously crafted the commemorative film Stand to the Light for the 30th anniversary of the film festival.

By conducting captivating interviews with the festival's founder, secretary-general, eyewitnesses and esteemed filmmakers, the film takes viewers on a visual journey through the illustrious 30-year history of the festival, encapsulating its most memorable moments.

On-site vote counting for the awards at the 6th College Student Film Festival in 1999. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Over the past 30 years, it has expanded its reach to over 200 universities in more than 70 cities across the country, showcasing nearly 900 domestic films through approximately 30,000 screenings. Additionally, the festival has hosted nearly 200 academic forums and lectures.

According to Xiao Xiangrong, head of Beijing Normal University's School of Arts and Communication, nearly 2,000 film and television students have actively participated in the operations of the festival, which has engaged an astounding 3.6 million students in its activities.

"Many students who once took part in the festival have now established themselves as renowned directors, screenwriters, university film instructors and film critics. They have made significant contributions to the advancement of Chinese cinema's quality and its development in various professional roles," he says.

Almost all teachers at the School of Arts and Communication have participated in the College Student Film Festival, Xiao says, adding that he himself has been fully engaged in the organization of the event since 2020, when he was appointed as its deputy director.

Group photo of the organizing committee of the 7th edition of the festival. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Xiao has also directed the ceremonies for the Golden Rooster Awards, the Hundred Flowers Awards, and the China Huabiao Film Awards. He thinks each film festival carries its own distinctive understanding and interpretation of cinema. However, the College Student Film Festival is refreshingly simple by comparison.

"Its essence lies in the young students themselves, setting it apart from other festivals. It represents the youthful perspective on film, their personal experiences and the emotions evoked by cinema, as well as their unique evaluations and aspirations for the medium," Xiao says.

The original student film section of the festival was established in 2000. For this year's selection, the festival received over 2,500 submissions from nearly 400 domestic and international universities and organizations.

After meticulous evaluation by nearly 100 college student judges, a total of 120 works were chosen for the final round, including 50 narrative films, 30 documentaries and 20 short films.

"College students are far more than passive moviegoers, but rather, active participants in the dynamic realm of the media era. Their short videos and films have the potential to impact the future trajectory of Chinese cinema. I wholeheartedly believe in the influential power of the youth in shaping the industry," says Xiao.

A screening event at the 9th edition of the event. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Participants of the 10th College Student Film Festival. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Passing on experience

In 2014, Zhang Ziwei embarked on her journey, working on the selection of original student films during her graduate studies at Beijing Normal University. A year later, she assumed leadership of a team comprising a dozen students to manage the program.

After gathering over 2,000 original works from across the country, they invited more than 100 college students from various universities to serve as judges, asking them to select their personal favorites. These chosen works were then evaluated by professional judges to determine the recipients of the awards. The small team also had to organize an awards ceremony.

The closing ceremony of the 15th College Student Film Festival. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Zhang fondly remembers the unwavering enthusiasm of the team's members, despite the immense workload they faced. Within a couple of months, they had to establish contact with hundreds of universities and distribute posters to each one.

During her involvement with the festival, Zhang discovered her passion for filmmaking, which led her to establish her own production company after graduating. Remarkably, many of her former team members from the festival have also found their niche in the film industry.

In 2018, Zhang received an invitation to create a promotional video for the festival. This year marks the fourth time that Zhang's team has been entrusted with crafting the festival's promotional video. Zhang notes that each year, a new festival coordinator, picked from the students at Beijing Normal University, reaches out to her for collaboration and communication regarding the video.

"It feels like I never truly left the big family," Zhang says.

A seminar at the 18th edition of the festival. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Staying true to the mission

Huang, now 89, started her career, which spanned 60 years, in literature, later expanding to include drama and film education. She eventually became the first doctoral supervisor of a film and television studies program at a Chinese university.

Huang recalls that the festival was established because Beijing Normal University decided to create a new major — film and television education — in 1992.

She led a team of six teachers to prepare for the new major. "When we were discussing what breakthroughs we could make with our major, one colleague brought up the idea of hosting a college student festival, and I felt it was worth trying," Huang says.

Students prepare for the opening ceremony of the 24th edition. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

The awards ceremony of the original student film selection at the 26th edition of the festival. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

According to Huang, when they founded the festival, they had two main goals — one was to provide the most high-end event possible and a youthful audience for the film industry, and the other was to imbue university students with important values, such as morality, intelligence and artistic aesthetics.

"By promoting Chinese cinema, college students can contribute to the development of the industry and receive artistic nourishment, which is equally important for their personal growth," she says.

"The festival has become a very intimate endeavor for me. As a teacher, I have also gained a lot of artistic inspiration from the festival, especially as we are facing young students, who are a source of endless inspiration. Being with these students is the happiest and most rewarding time of our lives," Huang says.

She thinks the motto of the festival — "youthful passion, academic taste and cultural awareness" — distinguishes it clearly from others.

"'Youthful passion' is the driving force of our festival. It is the fervor and vitality of Chinese youth that sets us apart," Huang says. "We have also always placed a great emphasis on academic development. Each year, we hold film exhibitions and awards, as well as various academic seminars."

The little flying tiger doll, mascot of the festival. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

According to Huang, the festival's mascot, the little flying tiger, was inspired by a small tiger with wings depicted in a Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) stone carving. With some modern elements added, it became the mascot that is still used today. "It represents the image of young Chinese university students," Huang adds.

The festival's logo features an eye, symbolizing the act of watching movies, surrounded by filmstrips, with the tiger at its center, which represents thriving and promising young Chinese university students.

"Reaching our 30th anniversary was not easy. We have overcome numerous difficulties and put in a lot of time, effort and material resources," Huang says.

"I look forward to seeing our university film festival continue to adhere to its mission, protect its brand, and constantly expand its influence. I sincerely hope and believe it is possible that the festival will increasingly play a unique and irreplaceable role in Chinese cinema," Huang says.

Contact the writer at liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn