China-US Youth Exchange Program concludes in Shanxi

The "Bridge of the Future" China-US Youth Exchange Program event came to an end in North China's Shanxi province on June 12. 

The program was jointly initiated and organized by the All-China Youth Federation and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

During the weeklong event, 15 young directors, film editors, creative directors, and college and university students from the United States engaged in in-depth exchanges and dialogues with Chinese film industry professionals, enthusiasts, and students, focusing on various topics such as the film profession, China's film ecosystem and cultural experiences.

"The rapid development of Chinese cinema has amazed the American film industry," said a young American filmmaker who was deeply impressed by the comprehensive camera lighting equipment, synchronous recording equipment, and well-developed production process of short films in China after visiting the Communication University of Shanxi. He further expressed his hope that more opportunities could be created in US-China film cooperation in the future.

Meanwhile, renowned director Jia Zhangke, along with representatives of teachers from the Shanxi Film Academy of Communication University of Shanxi, engaged in exchanges with young American filmmakers. Jia also invited them to participate in the Pingyao International Film Festival.

Shanshan Whittal, the director of the Asian unit of the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival in the United States, expressed her desire to promote cultural and artistic cooperation between the two countries through this exchange activity and establish multi-level collaborative projects in film production to promote the overseas distribution of Chinese films.

Yue Jiashu, a young Chinese volunteer, said he believes that both Chinese and American youth wish to better understand each other, and hopes that through this activity, American youth can deepen their understanding of China and Shanxi.