Imagine the Oscars meeting Comic-Con 🎥🐼! This week, the Chinese mainland city of Chengdu is buzzing as it kicks off the 2025 Golden Panda Awards, a festival that blends myth, movies and tech to spark dialogue among civilizations.
Remember the animated hit Ne Zha 2? Born in Chengdu, it mixed legendary Chinese mythology with jaw-dropping visuals and became the highest-grossing film in Chinese mainland history, even breaking global records for animated features. Now, Chengdu sets the stage again for creators and thinkers from around the globe.
Launched two years ago in Sichuan Province—home to the Chinese mainland's giant pandas—the biannual Golden Panda Awards honor outstanding work in film, TV drama, documentaries and animation. This year, 27 trophies will be handed out, and the program is packed with screenings, cultural performances and lively forums.
At the heart of the festival is the 2025 Golden Panda International Cultural Forum, where experts in culture, science and tech will explore how artificial intelligence, cinematic language and ecological innovation are reshaping art and society.
“Dialogue among civilizations is not a matter of choice but a universal necessity,” said Egypt's Minister of Culture Ahmed Fouad Hanno. “The arts can open avenues for dialogue and promote peace, creativity, and innovation.”
Nigeria's Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Hannatu Musa Musawa added that culture can “cross borders, unite hearts and reshape narratives.” She hopes collaboration in gaming and animation will “redefine Africa's identity and invite the world to see our continent with fresh eyes.”
For film buffs, culture lovers and curious minds, the Golden Panda Awards in Chengdu are a must-see celebration of creativity that brings the world a little closer—one story at a time. 🌏✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
