On November 13, the third Hunan Ethnic Film Festival closed in Furong Town, concluding an event that featured nearly one hundred submitted works and eighteen finalists.
The closing ceremony on the evening of November 13 brought together filmmakers, experts, and local residents in Furong Town for the conclusion of the third Hunan Ethnic Film Festival and the “Xiangxiang Pomegranate Red, Hearts Together to Promote Development” Light and Shadow Yongshun Tour, Sanxiang City Daily reported. The festival featured nearly 100 submitted films from across the country, with 18 selected works screened across Changsha and Furong Town.
A tribute to Xie Fei formed a central part of the evening, celebrating his contributions to ethnic-themed cinema through works such as A Girl from Hunan, Black Steed, and Yishi Jioma.
In the competitive categories, Wan Tongshu and The Summer of Wangmu shared the honor for best film. Jing Yi won best director for Botanist, Jiang Hong won best screenwriting for Wan Tongshu, Wang Yu won best actor for Wind and Snow Flurry, and Yirigui won best actress for Endless Life.
Dingzhen Pearl received the best newcomer honor for Dream Seeking Supi Daughter Kingdom, while Distant Purgy Gangri received the jury recommendation honor, and Principal Mother earned the organizing committee’s special recommendation.
During the tribute, Xie Fei took the stage to recount his experiences filming in western Hunan more than forty years ago. He said that the region’s literature and culture provided deep nourishment for his work.
“[Youth creators should] root themselves in real life and deeply cultivate ethnic culture, filming more outstanding works with backbone and temperature,” Xie Fei told Beijing Daily.
His remarks earned prolonged applause from the audience. The event concluded with the mass dance performance “Love Our China.”
The festival, which opened on November 12, was organized by the Hunan Provincial Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission and the Hunan Film Bureau, with execution handled by the Eeyore Film Group and local government bodies in Yongshun County, Voice of Hunan reported. The event integrated professional film screenings with ethnic work initiatives across nine core sections.
These sections included film screenings with creator meet-and-greets, a “Following Films to Travel” carnival, a cultural lecture on building a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, village film shows, and an open-air wind and goods market. The festival also featured a thematic seminar on ethnic cinema.
| Award Category | Recipient Title / Work | Recipient Name |
|---|---|---|
| Best Film | Wan Tongshu & The Summer of Wangmu | – |
| Best Director | Botanist | Jing Yi |
| Best Screenwriter | Wan Tongshu | Jiang Hong |
| Best Actor | Wind and Snow Flurry | Wang Yu |
| Best Actress | Endless Life | Yirigui |
| Best Newcomer | Dream Seeking Supi Daughter Kingdom | Dingzhen Pearl |
Running concurrently with the film festival, a delegation from Shannan City in Tibet participated in exchange activities supported by Hunan’s counterpart assistance program. Representatives visited local villages to observe folk culture preservation and tourism integration.
The event concluded on November 13 with the closing ceremony at Furong Town.
