Micro films showcasing beauty of canals awarded

The awarding ceremony of the First Canal Theme International Micro Film Festival kicks off at Yangzhou Theatre on Oct 11. [Photo/yznews.cn]

As part of the World Canal Cities Forum, the awarding ceremony of the First Canal Theme International Micro Film Festival took place at the Yangzhou Theater on Oct 11.

A total of 1,837 pieces of work including feature films and biographical films from home and abroad submitted films for the festival, telling the stories of canal cities and showcasing the beauty of canals, with 37 of them being nominated and 15 winning awards.

Themed on canal elements, the festival aimed to improve the country's cultural soft power and reveal the authentic side of China to audiences in the form of the micro films.

As the birthplace of the Grand Canal, Yangzhou enjoys a profound canal culture and took the lead in the Grand Canal's application for UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2014.

Jiang Ping, general manager of China Film Co Ltd, said Yangzhou deserved the honor of being the festival's host site for its contribution of abundant cultural heritages, and he expressed his hopes that more excellent works will be created in tribute to the Grand Canal in the future.

"The Grand Canal has been nourishing Yangzhou for thousands of years and the city has put great efforts into the protection and development of the canal," said Xia Xinmin, acting Major of Yangzhou.

Xia added that he hopes more artists can pay attention to Yangzhou and showcase the city's charm to audiences from all over the world.

The festival themed on canal elements, telling the stories of canal cities and showcasing the beauty of the canal in China. [Photo/yznews.cn]