Recently, the second National College Thesis Film Festival took place in Kunming, Yunnan. Showcasing a wide variety of themes and genres, the event received 305 submissions, of which 32 outstanding works were ultimately shortlisted after a rigorous selection process by professional judges. Among them, Xiang Embroidery: Heritage Under the Needle Tip, produced by a student from the School of Journalism and Communication, earned an Excellent Work Award.
Under the guidance of Professor Yan Jun, Wu Panxi—a 2020 Communication major specializing in audiovisual communication—created this award-winning piece. Focusing on embroiderer Zhao Beiying, the film chronicles her journey from joining the Hunan Embroidery Research Institute at age 18 to teaching the craft after retirement. The documentary reveals Zhao’s lifelong commitment to preserving Xiang embroidery and reflects the spirit of this time-honored art form.
Meanwhile, two parallel events were held during the Festival: the Chinese Collegial Association for Visual Art’s Creative Research Center Construction Exchange Meeting and the Industry-Education Integration Practical Teaching Exchange Meeting. Representatives from 15 creative research centers across the country shared their experiences and engaged in in-depth discussions. At the sessions, Associate Professor Zhang Luyuan of the School of Journalism and Communication reported on the progress of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Audiovisual Creation and Research Center over the past year. He also offered suggestions for the future development of creative research centers and the Thesis Film Festival.
Initiated by the Chinese Collegial Association for Visual Art and hosted by the Film and Television School of Yunnan Arts University—with the AME Film Project as a co-organizer—the National College Thesis Film Festival provided a platform for emerging filmmakers to demonstrate their technical skills and innovative vision. The event also highlighted the high-quality teaching outcomes of participating universities.
