Amid the vibrant spring scenery and thriving vitality, the first-round review for the college animated short films and comics in the 15th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) “Game-Based Animated Films Section” was successfully concluded from March 29 to 30, 2025, at the Animation School of Beijing Film Academy. After rigorous review by expert judges, 60 animated short films and 60 comics were selected to advance to the final round. Young creators showcased their talents through creativity and ignited their passion through visuals, reflecting China's vibrant animation industry.

This year's event was successfully held in Beijing's Xicheng District, thanks to the district's forward-thinking approach to promoting the cultural and creative industries. In recent years, Xicheng District has further expanded development opportunities for literary and artistic creation through supportive policies, cultivating a fertile cultural environment and gradually establishing itself as a hub for college creative talent. With the strong support of the Publicity Department of the CPC Xicheng District Committee, Beijing, the selection of college works in this year's Game-Based Animated Films Section has been comprehensively upgraded. As a key segment of BJIFF, this section introduced a new comics category for the first time, themed “Colorful World by Your Side”. By incorporating both animation and comic tracks, the event provided young creators with an even broader platform to showcase their talents.

At the same time, this year's selection maintained its high professional standards by inviting renowned experts from China's animation and comic industries to serve as the first-round jury. The jury consisted of senior judges from prestigious domestic animation and comic awards, authoritative mentors who nurture emerging industry talent, and outstanding frontline animation and comic creators, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation from academic, industrial, and research perspectives. Since the call for submissions began on March 10, the event has received an overwhelming response, with over 500 animated short films and 500 comics submitted by colleges, universities, and creative institutions across the country, totaling more than 1,000 entries and setting a new record for participation. The judges categorized all submissions by their respective colleges and universities and selected 180 works for the first-round review. 10 judges in charge of the first-round review conducted on-site scoring at the Animation School Beijing Film Academy to determine the final shortlist.

During the first-round review phase, a 100-point scoring system was strictly followed, with each judge independently assessing the entries to ensure fairness and objectivity. After multi-tiered selection and rigorous review, a total of 120 works advanced to the final round. These submissions spanned diverse genres, including fantasy, sci-fi, and traditional cultural themes. Young creators used light and shadow as their brush and creativity as their ink, integrating innovative expressions such as Chinese aesthetics and technological empowerment into their works. Their works not only showcased cultural heritage, but also explored diverse approaches to Chinese anime, fully demonstrating the creative passion and industry potential of young students.

Jiao Zhentao

Associate Professor, School of Arts, Renmin University of China

His comic works have been selected for prestigious exhibitions at home and abroad, such as the National Exhibition of Fine Arts and the 9th International Comic Conference in Japan.

Liao Shasha

Head of Experimental Animation Studio, College of Art and Media, Tongji University

Her personal animation works have won numerous domestic and international animation awards. Her students have received over 270 professional awards at home and abroad, including the Cannes International Film Festival and the “Golden Monkey King” Award, earning her more than 30 titles as an Outstanding Instructor in various professional competitions.

Luo Jianglin

Dean of Animation Research Institute, Jilin Animation Institute

Vice President of the China Animation Association, Director of the Professional Committee for Digital Games and E-sports under the Association of Fundamental Computing Education in Chinese Universities of the Ministry of Education, leader of the national first-class undergraduate animation major, judge for the key animation projects under the National Radio and Television Administration, Film and Television, and judge of the Ministry of Education's Original Animation Competition of China Universities, “Golden Monkey Kin” Award, Cyber Sousa, and White Poplar Awards.

Ma Chi

Director of the Animation Teaching and Research Office in the Department of Stage Art, National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts

He is also a member of the editorial board of the academic journal Comic Research. His opera animation Dream of Surprise was selected for the CCAERM short film festival at the KUKI Film Festival in Berlin, Germany.

Meng Weidong

Dean of the School of Design and Art, Xiamen University of Technology

His works have won the “Five-One Project” Award for Spiritual Civilization by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China.

Sun Yucheng

Sun Yucheng is the head of the Design Discipline Group, School of Fine Arts, Southwest University.

He serves as the vice dean of the Comics Research Institute at the Beijing Comics Academy, a jury member for the Art Fund Project of the National Social Science Fund of China, and a member of the National Art Examination Expert Review Committee under the National Education Examinations Authority. He has presided over and conducted more than 10 scientific research projects at the national and Ministry of Education levels.

Wang Hao

Director of Animation Department, Animation School, Beijing Film Academy

Secretary of the Animation Art Committee of the China Artists Association, Deputy Secretary-General of the Animation Film Working Committee of the China Film Association, Associate Researcher of the Experimental Animation Research Center of the China Animation Academe, and editor of Contemporary Animation.

Wang Yu

Director of the Painting Department, College of Art and Design, Beijing University of Technology

He is also a member of the China Artists Association, director of the Beijing Artists Association, and member of the Chinese Painting Committee of the Beijing Artists Association. His works are collected by the China National Academy of Painting and the Shanghai Museum of Art.

Ye Youtian

Ye Youtian is the academic leader of the Film and Animation Program, School of Film and Animation, Hubei Institute of Fine Arts.

He is also the academic director of the Chinese core journal Movie Review, a visual artist, and a national exhibition curator.

The review session was conducted in a solemn yet vibrant atmosphere. The judges held extensive discussions and exchanges, meticulously evaluating entries based on professional criteria such as narrative artistic expression and visual aesthetic style.

All shortlisted works will receive certificates of honor and be publicly displayed on the BJIFF official website's Game-Based Animated Films Section, as well as in subsequent online and offline screenings and related events. They will have the opportunity to be introduced to media, streaming platforms, publicity agencies, distributors, producers, project pitches, cultural and creative parks, commercial centers, and other potential partners.

The final review of the works will begin with an off-site independent jury review from April 1 to 5. On April 6, all scores will be compiled to determine the top 30 outstanding works, which will then be voted on in person during the offline jury meeting on April 7. The final awards will include: 5 “Excellence Animated Short Films”, 15 “Outstanding Animated Short Films”, and 3-5 “Jury's Special Recommendation Animated Short Films”; as well as 5 “Excellence Comics”, 15 “Outstanding Comics”, and 3-5 “Jury's Special Recommendation Comics”.

The highly anticipated final review results will be announced at the “15th BJIFF Game-Based Animated Films Section – Ceremonies” on April 19. All honored cast and crew will be invited to the stage to receive their certificates of honor and trophies. Representatives of faculty and students from colleges and universities across China will gather at the event to witness this glorious moment together.

Where creativity soars in dazzling splendor, craftsmanship creates magnificent chapters. The 15th BJIFF Game-Based Animated Films Section's “Colorful World by Your Side” Exquisite Appreciation Event uses youth creative ecosystems as its fulcrum, focusing on developing two-way channels for industrial innovation and talent incubation while creating a new platform for the integrated development of film, gaming, and animation. By discovering the cutting-edge ideas and diverse expressions of new-generation creators, the event injects fresh impetus into the high-quality development of the industry. The Game-Based Animated Films Section looks forward to advancing alongside you, crafting excellence with ingenuity, leading the future through innovation, and enabling animation works embodying Chinese aesthetics to shine on the global stage and write a glorious chapter for oriental animation!