In the summer of 2004, the inaugural film competition was launched with a call for entries for short films in the United States. The top winners, film scholars, and a representative from the American Film Institute (AFI) traveled as part of the American delegation to Beijing, China in April/May 2005 where the winning films were screened at the prestigious Beijing Student Film Festival (BSFF). Since the year 2005 also marked the centenary of cinema in China, Chinese film scholars and students chose five American feature films as the focus for screening and discussion. Our members provided synopsis and participated in question and answer sessions at each screening on May 9, 10, and 11. On May 12, a panel discussion about film and culture took place.

Rose Chen, Irby Brown, and Christian Gaines from the AFI were invited to be at the opening of BSFF on April 16. Dr. Brown and Mr. Gaines were engaged in a series of lectures at various film and cultural institutions in Beijing as well as in Shanghai through the sponsorship of the American Center for Educational Exchange. Personal remarks about the experience can be found in the Reports and Testimonials section.

As a component of the bilateral exchange, we are bringing Chinese films, filmmakers, and scholars to the United States for a comprehensive look at China through films and other cultural events. The China-America Festival of Film and Culture (CAFFC-RIC 2005) will be held in Richmond, Virginia on October 5 to 9, 2005. Please check the Press Releases section for more details.