The second "@Beautiful hejiang" Global Short Video Contest Final Appraisal Meeting

 Recently, the final appraisal meeting of the second “@Beautiful Zhejiang” Global Short Video Contest was successfully held in Hangzhou. The meeting was conducted both online and offline, attended by nine senior judges of different fields from both China and aboard with their professional comments on the works.

In recent years, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and following the deployment requirements of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial Publicity Department and the Group, ZTV WORLD has strengthened the international communication content brand, expanded new channels of foreign communication, made efforts to run a good English communication channel, strengthened the construction of "China Blue International" media matrix, and established the "Important Window" International Communication Alliance. It aims to form a new three-dimensional structure of foreign communication, build a new integrated international communication system and create a new foreign-oriented publicity platform with national influence and global communication power. It has achieved remarkable success and has won domestic and international awards as well as the title of advanced collective in the province, and has been recognized and praised by the main leaders of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial Publicity Department and the Group.

Sponsored by the Information Office of Zhejiang Provincial Government and Zhejiang Radio & TV Group and organized by Zhejiang Radio & TV Group Overseas Center(ZTV WORLD), the "@Beautiful Zhejiang" Global Short Video Contest has been successfully held for two consecutive sessions. The first "@Beautiful Zhejiang" Global Short Video Contest gained over 100 million audiences and total views respectively, a new high for its overseas account. It created a premium platform for domestic and overseas video creators to exchange their ideas while showing the beauty of Zhejiang.

 The second "@Beautiful Zhejiang" Global Short Video Contest has received strong support from global participants, and collected more than 800 works in 3 months since its launch in July, 2021. In order to select the outstanding works that best show the beauty of Zhejiang, the Contest Organizing Committee picked out 366 works for the 7-day online vote from October 29 to November 5, 2021, with a total of more than 1.41 million votes and nearly 8.69 million views, almost three times the number of voters last year.

Eventually, 262 works were shortlisted for expert judgment in December. The professional judge panel of nine senior experts from both China and abroad scored each work fair and square. Through the discussion of the Organizing Committee, the winner list was determined by the final appraisal meeting.

The final appraisal meeting was presided over by Huang Wei, Director of ZTV WORLD. Ms. Huang said that in order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, inherit the "red root" spirit, create an "Important Window" and further enhance the  international influence of "@Beautiful Zhejiang", the second "@Beautiful Zhejiang" Global Short Video Contest was held under the guidance of the Information Office of Zhejiang Provincial Government and Zhejiang Radio & TV Group. Enthusiastic participants show beautiful Zhejiang to the world with their unique stories and diverse perspectives. She extended heartfelt thanks to all the participants. She then briefed the participation and scoring standards of the contest. The winner list was revealed after the judges' discussion and evaluation.

Comments from Judges

Wu Shengwe

Secretary-General, Publicity Committee, China Federation of Radio and Television Associations; Director, Documentary Department, CCTV-4, China Media Group

The selected works are closely related to the theme and have the advantages of authenticity, innovation, artistry and ideology. In addition, they follow the rules of short video creation and reflect the spirit of the times. The series Memories of 100 Years in My Eyes reveals the great changes in social development through the destiny of individuals, and displays the noble spirit of ordinary people in the era through true and affectionate stories. The series The Most Beautiful Foreign Experiencers highlights the perspectives and characteristics of foreigners and demonstrates the Chinese wisdom featured by openness, inclusivity, extensiveness and profoundness.

Zhao Yue

Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Xinhua News Agency Zhejiang Branch

This contest has reflected the exchange and convergence between civilizations in two dimensions, i.e., foreigners' understanding of Chinese culture and Chinese people's understanding of Zhejiang. It has enabled us to have a new understanding of what "Beautiful Zhejiang" implies. The series Memories of 100 Years in MY Eyes is very impressive. Through a very novel way of expression, it allows overseas audiences to understand the loyalty and unshakable belief of the senior CPC members. That is the best way to spread the stories of the CPC in the 100 years since its foundation.

Wei Lu

Dean, College of Media and International Culture, Zhejiang University; Director, Media Convergence Research Center, Zhejiang University

The theme of “@Beautiful Zhejiang” is in line with the major national construction strategy, and also displays the beautiful image of the common prosperity demonstration zone and important window. The theme setting of The Most Beautiful Foreign Experiencers is very impressive, and the works under this theme have vividly shown the happy life of many foreigners in Zhejiang and their contributions to the construction of the beautiful Zhejiang. Many works have demonstrated the high quality characteristics of being people-oriented, seeing big things through small ones, and moving people with emotion. In addition, they have strengthened the international communication of Zhejiang and even China from the resonance of emotions and values. I am looking forward to the greater efforts in international promotion of the works in the future.

Wang Xinhua

Director, International Communication Division, Publicity Department of Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee

Compared with the previous one, this contest features more extensive participation, richer contents and formats, and it keeps up with the hot spots of the times, making it very meaningful and valuable. The setting of the two themed series has not only allowed us to draw on the wisdom of the masses in telling the political stories of China in a better manner, but also helped us to discover a large number of foreigners and their families living and working in Zhejiang. Those works have greatly impressed and inspired the audiences. This contest has done a lot, but we still have to self-reflect so as to introspect constantly so as to make better achievements in the future. I am looking forward to more surprises brought by the third “@Beautiful Zhejiang” Global Short Video Contest.

Chen Fangzhu

Member of the Editorial Committee, Chief Director of the Editor’s Office, Zhejiang Radio & TV Group; Director, Professional Committee for International Communication, Zhejiang Society of Radio, Film and Television

"Warmth" is a common feature of the works in this contest. Many works have shown the prosperity of Zhejiang in a simple but profound way, and through small "pointcuts", making themselves an important showcase to win the favor of overseas communities. It is hoped that the award-winning creators will share their creative experience with the whole society, and call on more social groups to join the actions of spreading the Beautiful Zhejiang.

Wang Wenke

Professor of Communication University of Zhejiang

Compared with those in the first contest, the quality of the works in the second contest has made gratifying progress and shown the advantages of media integration. They feature innovation in attitudes, pursuits, and presentations. In addition, this contest has strong creativity feature and sufficient planning. The works have not only displayed the authenticity of Beautiful Zhejiang in multiple dimensions, but also excellently demonstrated the beauty of the core values of the contest by relying on the strong empathy and communication power. The highest level of international communication is to move people with emotion and arouse the emotional resonance and value recognition of audiences.

Yang Zhonggui

Secretary-General, Professional Committee for International Communication, Zhejiang Society of Radio, Film and Television; First-class scriptwriter

The works in this contest have covered many fields and are full of positive energy. They perfectly combine the theme of “@Beautiful Zhejiang” with the modern photographic art. Through the contest, a large number of excellent short video creators have emerged, and their works feature innovation, elaborate production and beautiful imagery. They focus on international expression, and truly deliver Chinese stories to the international stage.

James Su

President of EDI Media Inc, CEO of iCiTi TV & Radio Network, Chairman of Chinese American Film Festival and Chinese American TV Festival

In my opinion, the highlight of this contest is that the entries allow us to see the true Beautiful Zhejiang, charming China and a vibrant and promising future with localized content presentation, internationalized expression methods and modern new media shooting techniques. In particular, the thematic works of Memories of 100 Years in My Eyes and The Most Beautiful Foreign Experiencers have shown the power in the ordinary so that we can see big things through small ones. They are worth watching. What I have seen throughout the contest is the beautiful Zhejiang, and an amiable, credible and respectable China behind the beautiful Zhejiang.

Vikram·Channa

Vice President of Discovery Channel Asia-Pacific, Director of Content of Discovery Channel East and Southeast Asia

Compared with the previous one, this contest has improved in quantity, quality and subject matter. The two thematic works have left a very deep impression on me. The works perfect the story and characters through very small entry points, and then the transition to a more full and rich storyline makes them moving works. This contest enables me to get a deeper understanding of and insights into the whole Zhejiang and even the whole China through an immersive movie-watching experience.

Upon rigorous review by the contest organizing committee, and based on the scoring by the judges and online voting, the winners are as follows:

Congratulations to the winners! Thanks again to all contestants, media reporters and fans for your close attention and strong support. Prizes, trophies and certificates will be mailed to winners of Comprehensive Awards and Individual Awards, and certificates will be mailed to winners of Outstanding Organization Awards, International Cooperation Awards and Cultural Communication Awards as soon as possible.

Excellent works will be dubbed and interactively broadcasted through Zhejiang Satellite TV, ZTV WORLD, ZTV NEWS, China Blue International Media Matrix, China Blue News APP, China-Zhejiang English Website, In Zhejiang English Website, “@Beautiful Zhejiang” Tik Tok, CCTV APP, Xinhua News, Xinhua APP, Xinhua News Agency Client and other important platforms at home and abroad. It will also be disseminated through various media platforms of the members of the “Important Window” Zhejiang International Communication Alliance, the international communication cooperation media of overseas friendship cities and domestic mainstream commercial video apps in China. It will connect video creator channels and share high-quality platform resources.

We discover Zhejiang with a global perspective.

We sow the seeds and reap harvest of Zhejiang’s development.

Here, together, we witness China’s prosperity through beautiful Zhejiang! 

Editor: Huang Yan