The 13th Cross-Strait Television Art Festival and the First Cross-Strait Chinese Culture Summit Television Forum opened in Beijing

On October 25, the 13th Cross-Strait Television Arts Festival and Cross-Strait Chinese Culture Summit Television Forum opened in Beijing. This event was co-hosted by several organizations, including the China Television Artists Association, the Beijing Cross-Strait Civil Exchange Promotion Association, the Taiwan Chinese Broadcasting and Television Production Industry Association, and the People’s Government of Xicheng District, Beijing. The Beijing Radio and Television Station organized the festival.

Yan Shaofei, the Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the China Television Artists Association, delivered a speech during the opening ceremony. He reflected on the festival’s inception in 2012, highlighting its role in embodying the dreams and aspirations of television professionals across the Taiwan Strait. He noted that the festival serves as a platform for exchanging ideas and emotions between creators from both sides. Through various activities like exhibition broadcasts, academic discussions, and creative exchanges, friendships flourish and partnerships grow stronger. This year’s festival will feature a range of themed events, including the commendation of the “Top Ten Audiovisual Works from Both Sides,” Cross-Strait Television Forums, and a showcase for emerging television hosts, all aimed at reviewing the past year’s efforts in television arts and exploring the future of this creative field.

In his remarks, Wang Weijiang, founding chairman of the Taiwan Chinese Broadcasting and Television Production Industry Association, criticized the current Taiwanese administration’s education policies, which he claims are aimed at “de-Sinicizing” the schools. He expressed concerns over the use of audiovisual works as tools for social indoctrination, which he believes undermines the significance of Chinese culture in the hearts of the Taiwanese people. He emphasized the need for collaborative strategies to address these issues.

Following the opening ceremony, the awards ceremony for the “Top Ten Audiovisual Works from Both Sides” took place. The winning works were categorized into five genres: television dramas, variety shows, documentaries, micro-short dramas, and animation. Among the winners were the dramas “Blossoms,” “Welcome to the Second Generation Coffee,” and “May You Live Long,” documentaries such as “Letters Between Two Sides” and the first season of “A Taste of Both Sides,” as well as variety shows like “A Journey of Discovery in Mainland China” and “Voices of Life: Treasure Island Season.” Additionally, awards were given to micro-short dramas “Finding the Pieces of Home” and “Mountains and Seas, Hoping You Return,” along with the animation series “The Grand Canal Adventures” Season Three.

Wang Ziwei, the producer of the award-winning show “Welcome to the Second Generation Coffee,” stated, “The key to integrated development lies in finding common cultural ground through audiovisual media and resonating emotionally with audiences.” He underscored that audiovisual works are not just entertainment products but also catalysts for cultural fusion, expressing hope that innovative content and expressions will draw closer the hearts of young viewers on both sides and promote mutual understanding and connection between their cultures.