The second Chinese Documentary Film Festival will take place in Zhuhai from Nov 16 to 18, officials announced during an Aug 29 press conference held in Beijing.

The festival aims to create a cultural brand with international influence by using Chinese documentary films as a bridge. It will also release an array of high-quality documentary films that vividly record the current era and express the emotions of the people, thus enhancing the leading, disseminating, and influencing power of Chinese culture.

A poster for the second Chinese Documentary Film Festival. [Photo courtesy WeChat account: zhuhaifabu]

Tan Jing, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Zhuhai Municipal Committee, said that compared with the first session, this year's event will be of higher specifications, stronger professionalism, and richer content. Tan went on to say that the festival's international reach will also be expanded.

This year's festival is expected to involve more participation of citizens through activities such as film screenings, film salons, and symphony concerts featuring film soundtracks, all of which allow for a deeper integration of the festival with the citizens of Zhuhai.

Main activities of the event will include an opening ceremony, the collection and recommendation of Chinese documentaries, film screenings, dialogues, the collection and recommendation of "Impression Zhuhai" short videos, salons, and the closing ceremony.

The collection and recommendation of Chinese documentaries began on Aug 29 and will run until Oct 10, targeting Chinese documentary production institutions and practitioners. The films submitted should have been completed between Jan 1, 2021, and Sept 30, 2023.

A selection committee consisting of authoritative experts, scholars, and industry professionals will select outstanding documentary films in the categories of cultural history, natural science, social reality, and international communication. The committee will also recommend exceptional individuals in the fields of directing, cinematography, editing, and sound effects. Additionally, they will also select outstanding documentary film production, distribution, and screening institutions.

The "Impression Zhuhai (Season II)" short video collection program was also launched simultaneously. Film production institutions, university film departments, and film enthusiasts are invited to come together in Zhuhai to capture the essence of the city.