24 Apr 2025
Global Call for Entries Yields Record Participation under Theme of “Harmony”
Hosted by the Academy of Film and Creative Technology at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), the call for submissions for the Fourth MEGA International Creative Media Festival successfully concluded on 10 April. This year’s festival, themed Harmony, not only attracted creative talents and media organisations from across the globe but also showcased the boundless potential and diversity of the creative media industry.
Record-Breaking Growth in Participation
Compared with last year, the scale of participation has grown dramatically. The third festival drew 348 submissions from 114 universities and 27 social organisations. This year, the figures are even more striking – 829 high-quality works from 20 countries were submitted, including entries from 175 universities and 105 works from the social category.
This remarkable increase not only demonstrates the festival’s growing recognition worldwide but also reflects the flourishing innovation and vitality of the global creative media sector.
Submissions came from China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), the UK, the US, South Korea, Russia, South Africa, Australia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Japan, Thailand, Hungary, Spain, Austria, Malaysia, Indonesia, Italy, Poland and Mexico.
Renowned Universities and Institutions
A total of 175 universities took part, including prestigious names such as the Shanghai Theatre Academy, Central Academy of Drama, Communication University of China, China Academy of Art, Peking University, Beijing Film Academy, Liaoning Normal University, Taipei National University of the Arts, XJTLU, East China University of Political Science and Law, Soochow University, Hong Kong Baptist University, Macau University of Science and Technology, Goldsmiths, University of London, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Tokyo Polytechnic University, University of the Arts London, London Film School, Royal College of Art, the University of Edinburgh, Chung-Ang University (South Korea), Charles University (Czech Republic), the University of Barcelona, the University of Western Australia, the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School (Poland), and the University of São Paulo (Brazil).
In addition, 14 professional media organisations, including Beijing Pan-Asia Pictures and NetEase Suzhou, contributed outstanding works. The social group received 105 excellent submissions in total.
Diversity of Genres and Languages
Entries covered a wide range of forms, from film and television production to digital media and installation art, highlighting both the innovative power and the multifaceted development of the global creative media industry.
The linguistic diversity of submissions was also notable, with works featuring not only Mandarin but also regional dialects such as Tibetan, Cantonese, Minnan, Wu, Sichuan-Chongqing, and Jianghuai, as well as foreign languages including English, Korean, Filipino, Russian, Greek, and Malay.
Selection and Upcoming Festival Highlights
The judging panel is now undertaking a rigorous review of all submissions, with the final list of selected works due to be announced in May. These works will be showcased to audiences during the festival.
The Fourth MEGA International Creative Media Festival will take place in Suzhou from 10 to 16 May 2024. Highlights include the opening ceremony and awards presentation on 10 May at the Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre, as well as a series of events such as the Master’s Graduation Exhibition in Cultural and Creative Industries, the Undergraduate Exhibition in Digital Media Arts, a Media Technology and Equipment Showcase, and an exhibition of Suzhou intangible cultural heritage.
On 11 May, XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang) will host the Film, New Media and Creative Technology Forum, centred on the theme “AIGC: Trends and Opportunities in Film, Culture and the Creative Industries”.
Expanding Influence: MEGA as a Global Platform
As XJTLU’s flagship international festival, MEGA has now been successfully held three times, attracting scholars, professionals, and students from China and abroad. The festival has established itself as a high-level platform for exchange and collaboration in the film and creative media industries, advancing dialogue between academia and industry on a global scale.
This year, as a new extension of MEGA, the Academy of Film and Creative Technology will launch the MEGA Filmmaking Masterclass during the summer. The programme will feature senior professionals such as Director Li You-Ning, Chair of the Asia-Pacific Film Festival and Executive of the Chinese Motion Picture Producers Association, and acclaimed screenwriter Li Bing, recipient of the Hong Kong Film Award for “Best Asian Chinese-Language Film”. Covering key areas such as screenwriting, cinematography, production, directing, sound, and editing, the masterclass will provide creators with comprehensive professional guidance and support.
By Wenzhen Li
Data Source: Organising Committee of the Fourth MEGA International Creative Media Festival
24 Apr 2025