Organized by Beijing Normal University, the 2025 Belt and Road Generation Z "Film Heritage, Share Stories" competition invites Gen Z from countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative to share stories of cultural exchange and mutual learning through short videos, images, and text.

1. Competition categories

• World cultural and natural heritage/Chinese civilization
• Intangible cultural heritage/Chinese traditional culture IP
• World culinary capitals/Chinese and global time-honored brands
• World tourism cities/International cultural tourism IP
• Stories of friendly Sino-foreign exchanges

The competition features three tracks: short video, image & text, and creative AI.

It aims to promote the vision of a shared future for humanity while fostering global cultural exchanges.

2. Submission requirements

2.1 Timeline

• Submission deadline: 12 pm, Aug 15 (Beijing Time)
•  Evaluation and announcement: Aug 25 to Sept 10
• Exhibition: Sept 20 to Dec 1

2.2 Eligibility

The competition is open to film and media schools, Gen Z creators (born 1990-2009) from countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, broadcasting and online media organizations, well-known bloggers, and new media companies.

2.3 Work requirements

(1) Submissions must be positive, healthy, and comply with Chinese laws and regulations.

(2) Works must be original creations by individuals or teams, with clear and undisputed copyrights. AI-generated works should be clearly marked.

(3) Video entries must include the competition's official opening (see attachment), with complete visuals, sound, and subtitles, and must be between 30 seconds and 8 minutes. Horizontal videos should have a resolution of at least 1920x1080, and vertical videos at least 1080x1920. Formats accepted include MP4, MOV, and AVI, with clean, watermark-free visuals.

(4) Photographs should be in JPG format, with a minimum size of 5 megabytes. There are no restrictions in terms of the number of images, color, or post-processing. Series should ideally consist of four to eight images, with accompanying text and story explanations not exceeding 1000 words.

(5) Multilingual submissions are encouraged, with subtitles provided in both Chinese and English for foreign language dialogue, narration, or commentary.

3. How to participate

(1) Platform posting: Entries should be posted on platforms such as Douyin, Kuaishou, Bilibili, WeChat Channels, Xiaohongshu, Weibo, and TikTok, using the official competition hashtag #拍遗产讲故事# (Film Heritage, Share Stories). After posting, participants must submit their entry information via email at paiyichan@163.com.

(2) Email registration: Submit entries, application forms, and other attachments in a single folder uploaded to Baidu Netdisk or Google Drive. Send the link and access code via email. Email subject, work title, and folder name should follow the format "Video/Photography + Author's Name + Work Title". Video/image file names must match the information on the application form. See attachments for the application form and participation commitment.

4. Awards and exhibitions

(1) Each track and category will have awards for Best Creativity, Most Popular, Civilization Exchange, Outstanding Organization, and Outstanding Instructor.

(2) In-person exhibitions: The competition will partner with events like the Beijing College Student Film Festival, Southern Film Week, MUST Chinese Youth Film Festival, and universities to hold screenings.

(3) Online exhibitions: Works will be uploaded to platforms like Douyin, Kuaishou, and CCTV.

(4) Award ceremony and results announcement: From late October to early December 2025.

5. Additional information

(1) The competition encourages collaborative entries from international teams, limited to three members. One main creator must be designated for registration, and duplicate submissions are not allowed.

(2) Participants must provide accurate and complete personal information and contact details. Incomplete or false information may result in disqualification.

(3) Participants must own full copyrights to their works, ensuring no infringement on third-party rights. The organizer has the right to use the entries for public promotion and media broadcasts, and the right to make necessary technical adjustments.

(4) No entry fees shall be charged. Submission implies consent for the organizer to use the work for promotional purposes. The organizing committee reserves the right of final interpretation.

6. Contacts

Jiang Lingrui: 189-8752-9019

Xie Zihao: 199-9660-4622

Gao Fei: 189-1127-6006

Email: paiyichan@163.com

Attachments

Scan the QR code below for the attachments, including the application form, commitment letter, registration form, competition logo, and video opening.

 

Source: Beijing Normal University