As fireworks lit Chengdu's skyline this week, the city cemented its status as China's cultural innovation hub by launching the 2025 Golden Panda Awards – a global platform where artificial intelligence meets ancient storytelling traditions to foster cross-civilizational dialogue.
The event builds on Chengdu's cinematic legacy, recently amplified by the record-breaking animated film Ne Zha 2 which reimagined Chinese mythology for modern audiences. Now, the biennial Awards expand this cultural ambition globally, with 27 competitive categories spanning film, documentaries, and animation.
"This isn't just an awards show – it's a laboratory for humanity's shared future," said Egyptian Culture Minister Ahmed Fouad Hanno during Friday's opening ceremony. His sentiment echoed through the Sichuan International Conference Center, where 1,200 delegates from 48 countries and regions gathered.
The 2025 edition introduces groundbreaking forums exploring AI's role in cultural preservation and ecological storytelling. A highlight includes Nigeria's proposal for joint animation projects with Chinese studios to reshape global perceptions of African heritage. "When our gaming developers collaborate with Chengdu's tech innovators, we create new lenses to view civilization," noted Nigerian Arts Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa.
Organizers emphasize the Awards' symbolic connection to China's giant pandas – cultural ambassadors embodying peaceful exchange. As night fell, a holographic panda mascot unveiled this year's theme: "Shared Light, Shared Future," projecting multilingual interpretations onto the Min River's surface.
With film screenings across 12 historic Chengdu landmarks and masterclasses by Oscar-winning cinematographers, the month-long event promises to transform how global audiences engage with Asian cultural narratives – one frame at a time.
