2025 'My China Story' video competition kicks off for submission
"My China Story" International Short Video Competition started in 2018. It has long been encouraging content creation teams and individuals from both China and abroad to submit multilingual and multi-format short videos on China-themed content. The competition aims to showcase unique perspectives of foreigners observing China, document their remarkable journeys exploring the country, gather scattered Chinese stories from around the world, and present the blend of Chinese and foreign cultures through an international lens.
The competition has been held successfully for six consecutive years and has developed into an international narrative communication brand. It integrates foreign-language short video creation, annual, themed competitions, creation seminars, special screenings, and the China Story Alliance of Global Creators.
Organizations
Sponsor: China International Communications Group
Organizer: Xufang International Media (New Media Center), CICG
Partnership Platform: Douyin
Categories and Themes
(I) Key Section: China's Development, Global Opportunities
Observing China through a global lens and telling China's story with international expression. The vivid stories from every city and village are not only vivid illustrations of Chinese-style modernization but also keys for the world to understand China.
This section is open to professional teams such as government publicity departments, domestic and international media, and film companies, widely soliciting foreign-language short video works covering content such as cultural heritage, tourism, economic development, scientific and technological innovation, civil life, fashion trends, etc.
(II) Enterprise Section: Outstanding Branding, Sharing with the Globe
Chinese enterprises that go global and foreign-funded enterprises in China serve as vivid sources for the world to understand China and are also important carriers for spreading Chinese culture.
This section particularly fits Chinese enterprises that go global, foreign-funded enterprises in China, widely inviting foreign-language short video works documenting Chinese enterprises' overseas expansion, foreign-funded enterprises' development in China, collaboration between Chinese and foreign employees, and cross-cultural exchanges.
(III) We-Media Section: Documenting Life, Discovering Happiness
With individual perspectives, unique observations, and the power of audience engagement, we-media influencers have become witnesses and documentarians of our changing times, as well as an indispensable force in online communication.
This section is open to short video bloggers and MCN teams worldwide, as well as foreign individuals and overseas Chinese communities in related fields, inviting a wide range of foreign-language short video works related to China.
(IV) University Students Section: By the Youth, to the Future
As digital natives and passionate creators of short videos, university students offer distinctive insights and attitudes toward the world, actively witnessing and participating in exchanges between China and other countries.
This section primarily targets Chinese and international student creators and teams from universities and colleges around the world, soliciting diverse foreign-language short video works centered on China.
(V) International Promotional Video Section: Vision of China, Essence of the East
Promotional videos serve as cultural ambassadors across borders, capable of conveying the humanistic charm of a nation, a city, a company, or an event through powerful imagery and symbolism.
This section is primarily open to government publicity departments, central and local media outlets, Chinese enterprises that go global, foreign-funded enterprises in China, and other relevant institutions, inviting a wide range of foreign-language promotional video submissions.
Timetable
Submission: August 30 to October 15, 2025
Prizes
(I) Outstanding Awards (50)
10 winners per section, 50 in total, and each winner will receive a certificate.
(II) Best Videos (25)
5 winners per section, 25 in total, and each winner will receive a certificate, trophy, and a cash prize of 3,000 RMB.
(III) Best Foreign Language Videos (5)
Five awards will be presented for the best short films in foreign languages, including but not limited to English, French, Russian, Spanish, and Arabic, selected from all submitted entries, and each winner will receive a certificate, trophy, and a cash prize of 3,000 RMB.
(IV) Best Single Awards (4)
Four specialized awards will be given: Best Video Host, Best Videography, Best Video Series, and Best International Communication, selected from the list of outstanding works, and each winner will receive a certificate, trophy, and a cash prize of 3,000 RMB.
(V) Grand Jury Prize (1)
One outstanding work will be selected from the Best Videos across all competition sections to receive the Grand Jury Prize, and the winner will receive a certificate, trophy, and a cash prize of 20,000 RMB.
(VI) Outstanding Organizations
The award covers all the organizations and institutions to take part in the competition (no limits in awarded numbers).
Requirements
1. The entries should meet at least one of the following conditions:
(1) With at least one foreigner in the crew, in any position, including host, protagonist or interviewee, director, designer, cameraperson or producer, etc.
(2) Related to cross-cultural communication between China and other countries. All the works should abide by basic rules for international communication in content and narration.
2. No restrictions on participants. Institutions, studios or individuals are all qualified to participate in the competition. Each institution is allowed to submit up to 20 videos and 5 for each individual participant. For entries submitted as a series or column, please provide exactly three representative works. Each video work is only allowed to participate in one section.
3. No limitations for the genre of videos. For instance, interviews, talk shows, documentaries, vlogs, microfilms, short dramas and promotional videos are all qualified. Each video should be within 10 minutes.
4. No limitations for the languages used in the videos, and English, French, Russian, Spanish, and Arabic are especially encouraged. Both Chinese and English subtitle is required. A video without Chinese and English subtitles might be disqualified.
5. All videos should be positive; any content related to pornography, violence, racial discrimination, etc., is disqualified.
6. The resolution of the works should be 1280*720 or above. MPG, MPEG, AVI, MOV, WMV, and MP4 are acceptable as video formats.
Submission
1. Log on to www.mychinastory.com, click on the entry on the home page, fill in the registration form and upload the video release link from Douyin. Afterwards, please email your videos as directly attached or via shared link(s) and password to Baidu or Google Drives to mychinastory@cnmatters.com. Please make sure your link is permanently accessible. The subject of your email should follow this format: "Participant name-Video title-Section". The text should indicate the contact information. (Please make sure the video title in the email is the same as that in the registration form.)
2. It is also qualified for participation if you upload your video to either a personal or company account on Douyin, and add the hashtag # 2025第三只眼看中国 #青年创作者成长计划 for it.
Rights and Interests of Participants
1. Participants have the opportunity to be shortlisted for relevant awards and corresponding certificates and/or prizes.
2. Participating teams have the opportunity to be selected for the "Young Creators Growth Program" (青年创作者成长计划), jointly initiated by Douyin Jingxuan and over 100 universities nationwide. The program offers support such as over one billion views in traffic incentives, cash revenue sharing, milestone commemorative gifts, and creation courses to foster the development of young creators.
3. Rewarded teams will be invited to attend the award ceremony and related events, engaging with jury experts, networking with content platforms, and sharing their creative insights.
4. The awarded videos stand the chance for massive on-site and media exposure during the ceremony.
5. The awarded videos stand the chance to be featured in thematic short video exhibitions and screenings organized by us at home and abroad.
6. The awarded videos stand the chance to be published in the Chinese-English video book named after the competition.
7. Awarded vloggers and teams may be invited to become signed partners of the competition and will participate in the relevant activities and video projects.
8. Outstanding vloggers and teams will be invited to join the organizer's workshop.