The second Golden Panda Awards events were held in Chengdu, Sichuan, from September 12 to 13. The current Golden Panda Awards, under the theme "Where Light Meets Shadow, Beauty Unveiled", established four competitive categories: Film, TV Drama, Documentary, and Animation. A total of 5,343 entries from 126 countries and regions participated in the selection process, culminating in 27 awards being presented.

During the Golden Panda Awards, a series of events, including the Awards Ceremony, Golden Panda International Cultural Forum, and Golden Panda Night, were held, showcasing outstanding film and television works worldwide, expanding platforms for industry exchanges and development, and building bridges for civilizational exchange and mutual learning.

Light and Camera: Screen Arts Promoting Civilizational Exchange and Mutual Learning

This year marks the 130th anniversary of world cinema—an art form that has eternally danced between light and shadow, capturing the passage of time and the evolution of life. Within the global landscape, film and television works serve as vehicles for civilizational exchange and mutual learning, building bridges of understanding among people across different regions and cultures while promoting the shared flourishing of diverse civilizations.

At the 2025 Golden Panda International Cultural Forum, civilizational exchange and dialogue became a central focus among participants.

Zhang Zheng, Secretary of the Leading Party Members Group and Vice Chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, said, "Today, Chinese artists are not only focusing on the real lives of the Chinese people, but also directing their attention to the world and to humanity as a whole." Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistan, stated that through the universal language of art, the Golden Panda Awards and International Cultural Forum have built bridges connecting different countries and cultures.

In this era of transformation, different civilizations need to respect differences while seeking common ground. "In Athens, Socrates urged his fellow citizens to pursue truth through dialogue. In China, Confucius proposed the idea of harmony but not uniformity," said former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou. He noted that dialogue, empathy, and mutual respect are cornerstones of peace and cooperation–this is particularly crucial in today's world.

"Art opens new windows for civilizational dialogue, disseminating the values of peace and innovation," said Egyptian Minister of Culture Ahmed Fouad Heno. He further stated that both China and Egypt have preserved their cultural distinctiveness throughout millennia of civilization, while embracing the world with open-mindedness and coexisting harmoniously with other civilizations.

In the rich tapestry of world civilizations, how can we surmount differences in geography, culture and more to more effectively foster exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations? Vincent Perez, a Swiss director, believes that although languages and customs vary around the world, film possesses the unique ability to unite people.

Chinese writer Liu Zhenyun offers this solution: "Watch a film from that nation, read one of their literary works. Because literature and cinema allow you to instantly 'immerse' into others' lives—understanding how they dine, how they fall in love, and how they live their daily lives." In Liu Zhenyun's view, communication is the key to "knowing oneself as well as others". Last year, his work "Laughter and Tears: A Novel" was adapted into a play by Chilean director Carolina Pizarro, with tickets selling out immediately after its premiere. "This demonstrates the power of communication," Liu said.

Shan Jixiang, Director of the Academic Committee of the Palace Museum, said that cultural heritage can also open up the imaginative space for humanity's journey into the future. "Cultural heritage belongs not only to a single country but also to all of humanity."

Emotions in Sync: Art's Beauty, a Heart-Striking Force

Film and television works link the past and the present, bridge different parts of the world, and also reflect the course of human civilization and the brilliant expanse of world culture. The selection process for the Golden Panda Awards adheres to the principles of heritage, mutual learning, and innovation. Transcending barriers and regional boundaries, it lets the works speak for themselves, identifying outstanding productions that reflect shared emotions of humankind. "We believe that art can transcend the barriers of language, break through the high walls of prejudice, and reach deep into the hearts of people!" said Chen Kaige, Jury President.

At the Golden Panda Awards Ceremony, works from diverse countries and regions captivated the judges with their artistic charm and resonated deeply with the audience.

By integrating traditional mythology with modern cinematic technology and modes of thought, "Nezha 2" claimed the Best Animation Award in the Animation category. "Animation has an inherent advantage in international communication, as it conveys thoughts and ideas through action language," stated Su Da, jury member of the Animation category. She added that Chinese animation should identify more emotional cores that are of "common concern to humanity", using character-driven stories to resonate with global audiences.

Gao Song, winner of the Best Director award in the Documentary category, captivated audiences with "My Hometown Across the Ocean", which recounts how a group of foreigners in Sichuan over 100 years ago sought to save lives through medicine and sow the seeds of science through education. The work resonated with the audience. "When we talk about documentaries, we are talking about stories that speak to the lives of every individual," said Patrick Hörl, Chairman of the Documentary Jury.

In the Film category, the late director Pema Tseden won the Best Director award for his posthumous work "Snow Leopard", which explores the complex relationship between humans and animals. "The film 'Snow Leopard' condenses my father's life experiences, thoughts and insights, and conveys a power of love that transcends time and space," said Jigme Trinley, the son of Pema Tseden and a young film director.

Foreign productions accounted for 73.2 percent of submissions to this year's Golden Panda Awards, with nearly half of the jury members comprising international professionals. The Italian film "There's Still Tomorrow" received the Best Picture Award in the Film category for its powerful portrayal of Delia, a working-class woman navigating life in post-World War II Italy. "Truly compelling films often possess distinct regional characteristics and cultural identity, capable of precisely capturing and presenting the unique beauty and authenticity of a locality or a people," stated Lu Wei, jury member of the Film category.

In the TV Drama category, "She and Her Girls" received both the Best TV Drama and Best Screenplay awards for its moving portrayal of Zhang Guimei, principal of Huaping Girls' High School in Lijiang, Yunnan, who dedicated her youth to education in impoverished mountainous areas. Stories rooted in the soil harvest the most genuine resonance. Josie Day, jury member of the TV Drama category, noted that when the same narratives move people from different countries, it inevitably catalyzes more brilliant collaborations.

Dialogue on Challenges: Exploring the Boundaries of Technology

This year's Golden Panda Awards fulfilled its platform role in serving industry development, bringing together film and television creative talents from over 100 countries and regions. At the four parallel forums of the 2025 Golden Panda International Cultural Forum, numerous directors, actors, screenwriters, and cultural professionals from both home and abroad came together. They focused on hot topics like the application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and the development of micro-dramas, engaging in in-depth thinking and exploration.

While AI technology empowers film and television production, it also sparks intellectual debates on "where to draw the technological boundary". At the "Digital Empowerment: Technological Innovation Drives New Cultural Productivity" forum, film production designer Marco Dentici asserted that while AI can generate scenes, creative initiative must remain in the hands of artists—who alone possess the capacity for conceptual thinking and decision-making.

"Using a bit less AI and returning to the essence of ideological expression might bring us closer to the desired effect," said Yang Lei, the director of the TV series "Three-Body", drawing on his experience in creating the plot scenes of "universe flickers". He added that the application of AI technology must have boundaries and embrace negative space, "for it is in these gaps that imagination finds its room to unfold."

At the parallel forums "Scene Revitalization: New Trends and Opportunities in Cultural Consumption" and "Ecological Reshaping: Development and Challenges of the Film and Television Industry", practitioners engaged in vigorous discussions on how the film and television sector should respond to the micro-drama boom.

Can films fulfill audiences' demand for emotional value like micro-dramas do? Rao Shuguang, President of the China Film Critics Association, asserts that viewers highly prioritize emotional value, and filmmakers must avoid conservatism. Instead, they should embrace open-mindedness to study evolving consumption scenarios and explore new forms of artistic expression.

"The performance style of micro-dramas presents new challenges for feature-length drama actors," stated actress Tang Yan. She highlighted that performers must adapt to the demands of the era, explore more suitable expressive approaches through practice, and provide audiences with greater diversity in choices.

Technology serves as the fundamental decoder of light and shadow. At the forum "Decoding Light and Shadow: Global Perspectives and Local Expressions in Cultural Inheritance", Huo Wei, Academic Dean of the School of Archaeology and Museology at Sichuan University, stated that modern information technology is transforming archaeology from an ivory tower discipline to a public-facing field. He called for enhanced collaboration between archaeologists and film professionals, allowing rigorous academic research to achieve international dissemination through the narrative power of cinematic language.

Collaboration is a vital driving force for the advancement of the film and television industry. During the Golden Panda Awards, the Golden Panda Global Imaging Cooperation Programme was launched, exploring further collaboration possibilities in areas such as copyright protection and coordination with renowned international film festivals. The inaugural Golden Panda Script Incubation Initiative built a platform centered on screenplays to discover new-generation writing talent and creative material. Ten works, including "Towards the Clouds", were awarded, injecting fresh vitality into the industry's development.