The opening ceremony of 2014 Qinghai World Mountain Documentary Festival.[Ma Zhenlong]

Hundreds of filmmakers have gathered on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau for a documentary film festival focused on remote and threatened high-altitude environments and cultures.

The organizers of the 2014 Qinghai World Mountain Documentary Festival, which opened in Golmud, northwest China's Qinghai Province, on Sunday, have received 551 documentaries that they have divided into the categories of anthropology, society and nature for awards consideration. They were all filmed at altitudes above 500 meters in 36 countries and regions, said Sun Jianying, chair of the festival's judging committee.

"In a world of increasing globalization and development, mountain inhabitants are fortunate as physical isolation has made it possible for them to keep their values and traditions; however, their cultures must be salvaged and conserved before it's too late. The documentaries help to preserve the genes of their culture," said Sun.

Chinese production "Village Diary," a nominee for Best Long Documentary in the society category, records the life of several farmers and their families in a remote north China village over the course of a year, reflecting the challenges faced in rural China.

"It's touching but in a very restrained way. Audiences can feel the warmth of the faith and enthusiasm of the main characters, even when they are enduring miserable situations. It's really powerful," said Sun.

Sun has also been impressed by a number of other Chinese entries, though she noted that domestic productions have a long way to go compared to their foreign peers.

"In the anthropology and society group, outstanding documentaries produced in China as well as in Asia have made much progress... yet in the nature group, the number of excellent productions made in China and Asia is still limited, which requires attention and investment," she said.

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