After months of preparation, the fourth Golden Panda International Short Film Festival (GPIFF) has raised the curtain with a call for submissions to filmmakers worldwide.

Organized by GPIFF Committee, China Network Television and Orient Star Media, Golden Panda International Short Film Festival’s core mission is to become a North America-based, internationally minded festival that serves as a springboard to the careers of young filmmaking talents around the world.

GPIFF began accepting entries on Aug 9 and will do so until Oct 9. Filmmakers are welcome to submit their works by visiting GPIFF’s website: www.gpiff.com. The early bird stage runs from Aug 9 to Aug 26, 2016.

This year’s festival has invited accomplished film professionals and well-respected scholars across North America, Asia and Europe to form an international jury of seven aiming to select the best works among all submissions.

Zhang Huijun, president of the Beijing Film Academy (BFA), will be serving as president of the jury during this year’s festival. As the largest film academy in Asia and the best film school in China, BFA not only has an array of alumni many of whom are world-recognized directors and actors, it is a cradle that cultivates emerging young Chinese film talent.

Sandy You (right), and executive member of the 2016 Golden Panda International Film Festival committee, presents a certificate of appointment to Zhang Huijun, president of the Beijing Film Academy.

GPIFF jury members include Jiang Ping, vice-chairman and general manager of China’s leading film enterprise, the China Film Co; Ivor Benjamin, chair of the Directors Guild of Great Britain; Ellen Seiter, professor at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts; Christopher Lane, director and program coordinator at Toronto Film School; Sabrina Baracetti, president of the Far East Film Festival; and Robert Lundberg, COO of China Lion Film Distribution.

The GPIFF committee has brought film organizations and companies from China, the US and the UK to join forces as international advisory organizations, which will be advising on better bridging the gap between global film industries, especially between North America and China.

China Film Co has made itself a significant component of the international advisory committee. A subsidiary of China’s most influential film enterprise and largest film distributor China Film Group Corp, China Film is one of only two film companies in China that are entitled to import and distribute foreign films.

There is no relationship more important to the world’s film companies looking to reach the Chinese market than its ties with China Film, which is currently the world’s second-largest box office. Earlier this month, China Film held the largest public offering in the history of China’s entertainment industry and became the first film enterprise in the country that is involved in all aspects of China’s film industry.

This year’s festival has also formed the international advisory committee with La Peikang, chairman of China Film Group, as honorary adviser; and Jiang Ping, vice-chairman and general manager of China Film Co, as chief adviser, joined by other accomplished advisers from China, the US, Canada, UK and Japan.

Owen Wen, a representative of the GPIFF committee, presents a certificate of appointment to Jiang Ping (left), vice-chairman and general manager of China Film Co.

Sandy You (right), executive member of the 2016 GPIFF committee, presents a certificate of appointment to Professor Jan Walls, president of th Canadian Society for Asian Arts.

Representatives from each award-winning film production team will be invited to join a week-long Golden Panda International Filmmakers Cultural Immersion Trip to China in early 2017. All expenses will be covered by the festival committee.