Young foreign directors complete capital shoot in short time frame

Twelve young foreign filmmakers have collaborated with Chinese partners to complete 11 short movies and one documentary, conveying their distinctive understanding of the capital through the lens over a period of just 17 days, according to Beijing Normal University

Their efforts resulted in Looking China — Beijing, which has attracted young directors from a dozen countries, including Argentina, Cambodia, and Turkiye, since its launch by the university's School of Arts and Communication in June.

Through their unique perspective rooted in their interests and cultural backgrounds, the young directors have explored a wide range of topics set in Beijing various from the city's iconic hutong to the Peking Opera and the new landmark of Beijing Daxing International Airport.

A ceremony displaying all these works was held in the university earlier this month, with the attendance of Huang Huilin, a prestigious professor at the university, and Phillip Warnell, an associate professor at the University of Lincoln.

Huang said that she hopes the young directors can integrate their observations, experiences, thoughts, and ideas about China into the films, expecting these clips will showcase a "credible, endearing, and respectable" image of China to the world.