Tu added that the International Section enables youth from around the world to connect and "see each other". This year, the festival received 1,879 entries, including 1,512 international films. The festival has also fostered ties with schools in Portugal, Greece, and other countries through its call for films.
According to Zhao Baowei, vice-principal of The Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, which hosts the Ginkgo Festival, the number of overseas film submissions greatly exceeded expectations. "This is a truly international film festival belonging to young people," he said.
Li Sixue, a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Arts at Peking University and a film journalist and critic, served as a re-examination judge at the Ginkgo Festival, reviewing 17 international films.
"Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised," Li said. "Some films are not only mature but even superb."
What impressed her most was the diversity of themes. Some filmmakers created documentaries with strong social awareness, such as one from Greece depicting how industrialization has altered the lives of local fishermen. Another film focused on African immigrants in Indonesia, exploring their identity challenges.
"I initially thought children's lives were relatively simple, revolving around school and family. However, their social landscape is quite open, and they are interested in a wide range of topics," Li noted.
The films also featured diverse forms of expression. Li highlighted two works by students from Soares dos Reis Art School in Portugal.
One, titled Tope, blends hand-drawn animation with footage of the filmmaker's late father to commemorate him. "The story is touching, and the form is innovative," Li said.
The other film, titled The Elephant in the Room, is experimental and avant-garde, using dyed and distorted shots to depict a girl's fantasy of becoming a mermaid. "It has a very personal style," Li said.
Beyond the films themselves, the festival also raises broader questions about how to nurture young creators.
In Li's view, young people first need a better understanding of how the film industry works. Online courses or videos can introduce them to different roles in filmmaking and possible career paths.
She also believes fostering creative thinking is vital. "Many young people in China, raised in a meritocratic environment, often seek the 'right way' to do things, which can stifle imagination," she said. "Filmmaking can stimulate creativity and transform ideas into reality."
Li also stressed the importance of cultivating aesthetic appreciation. "Expose children to quality work so they can recognize what is truly good," she said.
She noted that there are very few domestic film festivals with an international focus specifically for young people. As visual education is a gradual process that should begin early, the Ginkgo Festival has stepped in to fill this gap.
As an educator, Zhao has a clear vision for advancing film education for teenagers. His school has developed a comprehensive program that includes courses, hands-on practice, and presentations.
In the first year of both junior and senior high school, students participate in film training and workshops. By their second year, they create short films in class. The school's own short film festival, now in its 12th year, serves as a platform for showcasing students' work, while the Ginkgo Festival offers a broader stage.
For young people interested in films, Zhao emphasized the joy of pursuing personal passions.
"Exploring your hobbies and talents and doing things that reflect your own value is the happiest thing in the world," he said.
Li offered more direct encouragement."Don't extinguish the fire in your heart. If you dare to dream, take action," she said.
Ren is already planning her next step. This September, she will begin applying to universities, aiming for the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California in the United States.
"I want to be a filmmaker," she said."Being young doesn't mean you can't make something powerful."
