Organizers and participants of the BLSF campus event take a group photo in Norwich, U.K., June 28, 2023. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
The University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich, United Kingdom, hosted a campus event for the Beijing-London Short Film Festival (BLSF) on June 28. Orchestrated by the BLSF Organizing Committee, the event welcomed experts, professors, and students from UEA and the School of Animation and Digital Arts at the Communication University of China (CUC).
The gathering started with a heartfelt welcome from Li Dan, the strategic engagement manager of the UEA Global Office, who introduced the assembly. Eylem Atakav, the associate pro vice-chancellor of Global Engagement and a professor of Film, Gender & Public Engagement at the School of Art, Media, and American Studies, UEA, delivered an inspiring opening speech.
Atakav underlined the significance of the BLSF as a platform for cultural exchange between Norwich and Beijing. Atakav expressed her hopes for more collaboration between the two cities, extending beyond film and television culture into other spheres. She concluded by extending her best wishes for the success of the short film festival.
The BLSF Founder Zhou Jing presents the promotional video "The Central Axis of Beijing" in Norwich, U.K., June 28, 2023. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
The BLSF founder Zhou Jing offered a thorough overview of the festival and its aims. These encompass fostering cultural understanding between China and the U.K., establishing a platform for young filmmakers to connect and exchange ideas, and using short films to encourage communication among young people across borders.
In his address, Dr. Thomas Roebuck, associate dean for admissions in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and lecturer at the School of Literature, Drama, and Creative Writing at UEA, shared his memories of working in Beijing while viewing the Beijing promotional videos.
Dr. Roebuck spotlighted Norwich's esteemed recognition as England's first City of Literature by UNESCO in 2012, acknowledging its abundant historical, cultural, and literary heritage. He prompted UEA and Beijing students to imaginatively depict the unique features and customs of their ongoing development through videos and various art forms. He stated that he eagerly looked forward to seeing more exceptional short films from the BLSF.
The BLSF is currently accepting submissions for the 2023 edition of the festival. The festival is open to short films from around the world, and the submission deadline is Sept. 30, 2023.
