International film and TV makers praised the second Golden Panda Awards for promoting cultural exchange by introducing industry professionals to new colleagues and new worlds.
In southwest China's Sichuan Province, the home province of the giant panda, the 2025 Golden Panda Awards announced winners on Saturday. Honors went to filmmakers from China and beyond.
A key focus of the awards is inclusivity and international reach. This year, submissions came from 126 countries and regions — an increase from last year. The goal is for the event to serve as a bridge between people and cultures.
In the film category, Best Picture was claimed by Italian movie There's Still Tomorrow, while Best Director was given posthumously to Tibetan filmmaker Pema Tseden for his drama Snow Leopard. His son accepted on his behalf.
Ne Zha 2 — the highest-grossing Chinese animation of all time — captured the top prize in animation. Best Documentary was claimed by Norwegian film A New Kind of Wilderness.
The Best TV Drama honor went to She and Her Girls, the story of a rural school headmaster's journey. The show, along with other nominees, resonated deeply with Swiss host and producer Olivier Grandjean, who served as juror for the Documentary Category of this year's Golden Panda Awards.
"The thing that makes a TV drama most special for me is when I see a world I haven't seen before. So, She and Her Girls, I had never seen that. I've never been exposed to that before. That lifted me up and educated me. Same with Blossoms Shanghai — I've never seen that world before and it gave me a new understanding of Chinese culture," Grandjean said.
Nearly half of this year's jury members came from overseas — and for many, Chengdu, the host city, was an exciting first-time destination.
"This might sound a bit glib, but I'm so excited. All week it's been countdown to panda day," said Josie Day, a screenwriter and producer from New Zealand and a juror for the TV Drama Category.
"It's fantastic because it's nothing like I was expecting. So, I think more events like the Golden Pandas can only help encourage collaboration. I've met people this week -- actors, writers, directors — I would never have come across," said Mal Young, a UK producer and screenwriter and a juror of the TV Drama Category.
The event reflects China's growing role in the global cultural landscape.
"The Golden Panda Awards really came at the right time. Without national strength, no one would come to such a film festival," said Chen Kaige, a Chinese director and the jury president of this year's Golden Panda Awards.
With 27 awards across five categories—film, TV drama, documentary, animation, and a special jury prize—this year's competition received over 5,000 submissions from 126 countries and regions, more than 70 percent of which came from abroad.
Golden Panda Awards promote int'l cultural exchange
