Friendship, which derives from close contact between people, holds the key to sound diplomatic relations. 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. To strengthen cultural exchanges and cooperation among young people from China and abroad, promote the creation and dissemination of high-quality online cultural content, and harness the pioneering role of Generation Z in short video creation and distribution, we are calling for submissions for the "The Youth: Connecting the Belt and Road Closer" Short-video Contest. This contest aims to tell stories of human connection between younger generations, focusing on mutual learning, unity, and cooperation along the Silk Road through online submission of entries, offline salons, and omnimedia communication and promotion approaches. Here is the Notice on Call for Submissions for First "The Youth: Connecting the Belt and Road Closer" Short-video Contest.

The following is all you need to know about the contest:

Ⅰ. Organizations

1. Guided by:

China Public Relations Association, Publicity Department of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee.

2. Hosted by:

The Association of China Education Television, University Alliance of the Silk Road and Xi'an Jiaotong University.

3. Special Support Units:

Peking University, Tsinghua University, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing International Studies University, Communication University of China, Central University of Finance and Economics, Nankai University, Northeastern University, Tongji University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University, Communication University of Zhejiang, Xiamen University, Chongqing University, Sichuan University, Yunnan University, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xidian University, Shaanxi Normal University, and Xi'an International Studies University.

4. Media and online platform support:

China Youth Daily, Global Times, China Education News, China Education Television, CMG Mobile, v.people.cn, chinadaily.com.cn, China.org.cn, www.shx.chinanews.com, Shaanxi Daily, Qidian News of Shaanxi Media Convergence (SMC), Shaanxi News of SMC, cnwest.com, sn.ifeng.com, sxdaily.com.cn, Weibo Campus, Douyin, iQIYI Shaanxi, bilibili.com, etc.

Ⅱ. Target Contestants

Young teachers and students from Chinese and foreign universities.

Encourage young teachers and students from Chinese and foreign universities to submit collaborative works.

Ⅲ. Contest Categories

Entries are categorized into three sections for collection and evaluation:

1. Generation Z Sees the World

The Silk Road is a bridge for communication and integration, enabling Generation Z to explore China and the world with greater depth, comprehensiveness, and vividness. See the world from the vivid perspective of Generation Z.

2. Youth of the Silk Road

The younger generation actively participates in bringing Silk Road countries closer together. Display stories of people-to-people exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between Chinese and foreign youth in fields such as science and technology collaboration, educational partnerships, and cultural exchanges.

3. Art of the Silk Road

Unleash the imagination and innovation of young people. Create online videos related to the Belt and Road Initiative featuring various art forms, such as animation, dance, music, opera, immersive cultural experiences, etc.

Ⅳ. Requirements for Entries

Works should be produced after January 2022 and publicly released on official or personal media accounts. Content should relate closely to the educational experiences and lives of both Chinese and foreign youths. Sharp and coherent visuals, complete content, and pristine sound quality are a must, and innovations in filming techniques, editing approaches, narrative styles, and diverse perspectives are encouraged. There are no restrictions on the number of entries submitted, but specific requirements are as follows:

1. Type

No limitations, including but not limited to micro-films, vlogs, promotional videos, micro-animations, MVs, etc.

2. Duration

The duration for all entries is up to 5 minutes, including opening and closing credits.

3. Technical specifications

No restrictions on the shooting equipment; resolution not lower than 1920*1080 (landscape) and 1080*1920 (portrait). Accepted video formats are MP4, MOV, MPG, and AVI, with the video size not exceeding 1GB. Clear visuals without watermarks, banners, or any other logos.

4. Language:

Use of native languages with Chinese and English subtitles is encouraged.

Ⅴ. Submission Method

The first "The Youth: Connecting the Belt and Road Closer" Short-video Contest will be open for submissions from the date this notice is issued until March 31, 2024. Contestants can join the online contest through the following methods:

1. For contestants in the Chinese mainland: submit entries on the official website of the contest.

Upon logging in https://youthsvc.xjtu.edu.cn/slqndspdsen/,contestants must navigate to the "I want to register" section, upload their entries, and provide all the necessary registration details as specified on the corresponding registration page.

2. For contestants in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas countries and regions: submit entries to the official e-mail of the contest.

Contestants should submit the registration form (Appendix 1) and the Creator statement (Appendix 2) along with their entries to youthsvc@xjtu.edu.cn. Upon receiving a reply, the submission will be considered successful.

Ⅵ. Schedule

1. Launch and Release of the Contest: Nov 24, 2023

2. Call for Entries: Nov 24, 2023 - March 31, 2024

3. Evaluation and Display: April 2024

4. Award Ceremony and Offline Forum: May 2024 (Xi'an, Shaanxi province)

Ⅶ. Awards

The expert panel, arranged by the contest host, will comprehensively assess the submissions and recommend excellent entries based on the contest sections. The specific quantity and award settings will be determined by the host based on the final collection and evaluation results. Additional awards will include the Award for Organizing Unit, the Award for Excellent Creativity, the Award for Excellent Visual Effects, the Award for Popularity, etc.

Ⅷ. Notes for Contestants

Entries are required to be original and with clear copyrights. The host will not bear any legal responsibilities arising from disputes related to rights of portrayal, reputation, privacy, copyright, trademark, intellectual property, music copyright, etc.

The results will be published on the official website of the contest (https://youthsvc.xjtu.edu.cn/slqndspdsen/), the Xi'an Jiaotong University News Network (http://news.xjtu.edu.cn/index.htm), the WeChat account of Xi'an Jiaotong University, and "Xianjiao Integrated Media," the WeChat account of the media center at Xi'an Jiaotong University. Scan the QR codesto follow the latest updates on the contest.   

WeChat account of Xi'an Jiaotong University

WeChat account of Xianjiao Integrated Media

This event does not charge any fees. All rights are reserved by the host, and further notices will be provided for any unaddressed matters.

Contacts: Teacher Guo and Teacher Zhu

Tel: 86-(029) 82665226    86-(029) 82668309

Email: cecily1992@xjtu.edu.cn; zhufanyu@xjtu.edu.cn

Appendix 1: The First "Youth Connecting Silk Road" Short Video Creation Contest Registration Form

Appendix 2: Creator Statement

Nov 24, 2023