THE 13th China International New Media Short Film Festival will be held in Guangming District from today to Sunday. Organized by the National Radio and Television Administration in collaboration with the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, and with the support of the China Television Artists Association, the Guangdong Provincial Radio and Television Administration and other government departments, this festival stands as a premier international event dedicated to short films in China. Having successfully steered 12 editions of the esteemed “Golden Roc Short Film Director Support Program,” this festival has fostered and propelled numerous leading international film directors and creative luminaries into the spotlight. The upcoming short film festival will center on redefining its brand and elevating its content offerings, with a strategic move into novel tracks within the internet sphere and a fusion of pioneering micro-drama formats. The festival aims to play a proactive role in enhancing micro-drama creation, optimizing the content landscape, and expanding the industrial value chain for micro-drama productions. Heading the expert jury committee is Yu Baimei, an esteemed director, screenwriter, and producer. Joining him are Li La, deputy general manager of Tencent’s online video and television content production department, Su Xiao, chairman of Linmon Media, Chinese actress Yan Danchen, and Jaime E. Manrique, a special representative of the Short Film Conference. Manrique, founder of Laboratorios Black Velvet, has over 20 years of experience in holistic film management. Renowned for his pivotal role in promoting Latin American shorts through his work with the Bogotá Short Film Festival, Manrique’s impact on shaping the cinematic terrain is unparalleled. As the mastermind behind Pantalla Colombia, a cornerstone platform shedding light on Colombia’s film arena for more than two decades, his influence continues to shape the cinematic narrative. The five international expert jury members hailing from diverse backgrounds will decide on the ultimate selections for the much-anticipated short film festival. Categories include the best annual short film, drama short film, documentary short film, animated short film, and the finalists for the esteemed annual university student short film director support program. (Windy Shao) | 