Xiamen, June 23 (FN Agency) The “Looking China Youth Film Project” on Wednesday kicked off its cultural experience activities in the city of Xiamen, east China’s Fujian Province. Nine young filmmakers from Portugal, Jamaica, Singapore, Spain and Mexico are involved in the project, which will last to July 6. Paired with Chinese youth, they will head to cities such as Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou and Xiamen to film a 10-minute documentary, telling their stories about Fujian’s unique customs and cultural heritage. Craig McTurk, an American film producer and instructor of the project in Fujian, said that the project is an innovative program that celebrates Chinese culture and nurtures young international filmmakers. “It is both a tremendous opportunity and a challenge to even the most experienced filmmakers. Making a documentary film in a foreign country is one of the best ways to experience that country on all levels — personally, visually, and as a celebration of shared humanity,” he said.
Adria Guxens Chaparro, one of the participants from Spain, said that the program can help the filmmakers discover an ancient culture through exploration of their theme and their stay in Fujian, and that this can eliminate prejudices and stereotypes, while also allowing viewers to learn from the main protagonists in these interesting and illuminating stories. The “Looking China Youth Film Project” is a cultural experience program sponsored by Huilin Culture Foundation and hosted by the Academy for International Communication of Chinese Culture. It has been successfully run for 12 editions and is enjoying increasingly extensive influence both in China and abroad. It has attracted nearly 900 young people from 101 countries, produced 854 documentary short films and received 157 international awards. The project has become a brand showcasing enchanting aspects of China and promoting Chinese culture.