An article published in CGTN highlights a grand gathering of the culture industry unfolding in the vibrant Chinese city of Chengdu. The second Golden Panda Awards, taking place on September 12 and 13, celebrate excellence in film, TV drama, documentary and animation from around the world. Moreover, the biennial ceremony is a celebration of world civilizations, aiming to serve as a platform for dialogue grounded in the principles of mutual respect and learning.
Blending traditional Chinese mythology with breathtaking visual effects, Ne Zha 2 has rewritten the history of China’s cinema. Born in Chengdu, the animated sensation has been crowned the country’s all-time No. 1 film at the box office and shattered the world record for animated features.
This same city – Chengdu – once again took center stage on Friday as it kicked off the 2025 Golden Panda Awards, a grand cultural event that aims to bring artists, cultural leaders, and industry professionals from across the globe together in a celebration of intercultural exchange.
The Golden Panda Awards were first launched two years ago in Sichuan Province, home to China’s giant pandas – a cultural icon symbolizing peace and friendship. The biannual event aims to foster dialogue and learning between cultures by recognizing outstanding global film, TV drama, documentary and animation works.
This year’s edition, the second in the Awards history, will see 27 gongs handed out and a packed program full of forums, screenings and cultural activities.
At the center of it all is the 2025 Golden Panda International Cultural Forum, a platform for experts in culture, science and technology to engage in topics such as how artificial intelligence, cinematic language and ecological innovation are reshaping art and society.
“Dialogue among civilizations is not a matter of choice but a universal necessity,” said Egypt’s Minister of Culture Ahmed Fouad Hanno. “The arts can open avenues for dialogue and promote peace, creativity, and innovation.”
Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, laid stress on culture’s power to “cross borders, unite hearts and reshape narratives.” She hopes that African and Chinese cooperation in gaming and animation could help to “redefine Africa’s identity and invite the world to see our continent with fresh eyes.”
In 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping introduced the Global Civilization Initiative, putting forward a new vision for humanity, one where world civilizations coexist in mutual respect rather than vie for superiority. The Golden Panda Awards bring his vision into life.
Beyond the forum, cultural exchanges such as the “Panda Takes You to Look Around the World” exhibition are expected to connect filmmakers, producers and investors in fostering global cooperation in film and television. The “Let’s Watch Movies Together” screenings of classic films featured titles such as The Legend of 1900, A Separation, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, capturing the public’s imagination. Meanwhile, a short video and graphics campaign titled “Our Panda” has collected over 70,000 submissions from more than 50 countries.
This year’s awards have attracted entries from 126 countries and regions – 22 more than the inaugural edition – with overseas works making up more than 73 percent. Jury members praised the diversity of voices and perspectives. “We are seeing stories from more regions, with Chinese stories particularly impressive,” said Mal Young, an award-winning TV producer and screenwriter from the UK, also the chair of the jury for the TV Drama category.
For many participants, the Golden Panda Awards represent more than recognition of artistic excellence; they are a building block in a bridge of friendship between East and West. Winner of the 2023 Best Actor award for his role in the 2020 Holocaust film Persian Lessons, Nahuel Perez Biscayart, of Argentina, said, “Good stories have no borders. Human resonance is the true universal language.”
Embodying President Xi’s words that “Diversity spurs interaction among civilizations, which in turn promotes mutual learning and their further development,” the Golden Panda Awards use the language of film and television to bring diverse cultures onto a shared stage where everyone can shine equally.
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