On October 25th, the 10th Cross-Strait University Student Film Exhibition and the Phoenix Flower Season Graduation Film Exhibition officially opened at Xiamen University. Since its inception in 2014, this film exhibition has celebrated a remarkable decade, showcasing the innovative thinking and artistic pursuits of youths from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and Hong Kong and Macau.
Among the featured works at the inaugural screening were “Lush Scenery” from Xiamen University, “The Ocean’s Reply” from the Shanghai Vancouver Film Academy, “Her” from National Chengchi University in Taiwan, “Blind Date” co-produced by National Taiwan University of Arts and Beijing Film Academy, and “Taxi In My Memory” from Ming Chuan University.
One of the highlights of the evening was the film “Her,” created by a team led by Zhou, a student from National Chengchi University visiting the mainland for the first time. In an interview with a reporter from China News Service, Zhou shared that this graduation project tells the story of a mother and daughter who, despite their estrangement, gradually learn to understand and see each other. “I hope to engage in more discussions about film with young people from the mainland in the next few days,” she expressed.
The organizers reported that this year’s exhibition received an impressive total of 178 submissions from 34 institutions, including 141 works from 26 mainland universities, 36 from 8 universities in Taiwan, and one from a Hong Kong institution. The films span various genres, including narrative films, documentaries, animations, and short videos. More than 50 students and faculty from eight Taiwanese universities participated, marking the largest contingent from Taiwan in the history of the event. This not only highlights the influence of the Phoenix Flower Exhibition among young scholars on both sides of the Strait but also reflects the deep-rooted cultural exchanges and integration between them.
Huang, a student from National Taiwan University of Arts who is currently studying at the School of Journalism and Communication at Xiamen University, served as one of the hosts for the exhibition. Her involvement showcases the appeal of the event as a student activity and signifies the ongoing deepening of exchanges and cooperation between universities across the Strait.
The film exhibition runs from October 25 to 29 at Xiamen University, providing a platform for young filmmakers from both sides and Hong Kong and Macau to share their creative achievements and participate in a series of enriching交流 activities.
The Phoenix Flower Season Graduation Film Exhibition is organized by Xiamen University, with the School of Journalism and Communication serving as its host. Over the nine years since its establishment, the exhibition has collected nearly 2,000 outstanding film works from nearly a hundred universities on both sides of the Strait, screening over 400 exceptional pieces including more than 100 from Taiwanese universities. Notable film institutions both domestic and international, such as Beijing Film Academy and New York Film Academy, have also been represented at this event.
