China is set to launch the Golden Panda Awards, an international communication award focused on cultural exchange in the realm of films and TV series. Hosted by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Sichuan Provincial People’s Government, the awards will be held biennially and have a permanent base in Sichuan. The inaugural event is scheduled to take place in Chengdu from September 19 to 20.
Zhang Hong, Deputy Director of the Organizing Committee of the First Golden Panda Awards, announced that renowned Chinese director Zhang Yimou will serve as the chairman of the jury for the event.
Unlike traditional professional film and television awards, the Golden Panda Awards emphasize the concept of a global community with a shared future. The judging panel will include a significant number of foreign judges, at least 40%, to reflect the awards’ international and inclusive nature.
The Golden Panda Awards aims to be a major international event that fosters cultural exchanges and mutual learning among diverse civilizations. It is open to exceptional film and television works that embody common human values and aesthetic pursuits. Through these awards, China aims to strengthen its global connections and enhance cultural exchanges and mutual learning.
The First Golden Panda Awards will feature four main categories: film, TV series, documentary, and animation. The event will encompass various activities such as the Night of Golden Panda, Golden Panda International Cultural Forum, and Golden Panda Gala, along with supporting events like visiting events, public film screenings, and new exhibitions.
Wu Weishan, Director of the National Art Museum of China, highlighted the visual designs of the awards, including the logo, mascots, and trophy. The logo, created by the Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts, incorporates Tai Chi elements into the iconic image of a panda, symbolizing cultural interaction and exchange. The trophy, designed by the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, depicts a panda atop bamboo joints, representing rising quality and achievement with each award.
The upcoming awards will showcase 90 films and TV series selected from a pool of 7,024 entries submitted by artists from 104 countries and regions, including the US, India, and Iran. This selection process will begin in mid-September, as stated by Ren Zhonglun, a jury member for the First Golden Panda Awards and Vice Chairman of the China Film Association.
The Golden Panda Awards leverage the cultural symbol of the panda and the medium of films and TV series to create a platform for civilizations to learn from one another and exchange cultural insights.