THE inaugural Golden Panda Awards, an international cultural initiative honoring achievements in the fields of film, TV, documentary and animation, were announced last Wednesday.

“Jojo Rabbit” won the Best Film award, and the first season of “1923” took home the Best TV Drama award. Liu Jiangjiang claimed the Best Director award for “Lighting Up the Stars.” Nahuel Perez Biscayart and Penelope Cruz were respectively honored with the Best Actor and Best Actress awards.

In the TV drama category, Zhang Yongxin won the Best Director award for “The Age of Awakening,” and the Best Screenplay award went to the third season of “My Brilliant Friend.” Lei Jiayin and Margherita Mazzucco were awarded the Best Actor and Best Actress titles, respectively. “Yao — Chinese Folktales” secured the Best Animation award.

The Golden Panda Awards will take place every two years. The event received a total of 7,024 film and television works as submissions, with 4,927 international submissions. Among the 90 nominated works, 53 were overseas entries.

This inaugural edition provided participants from around the world with the opportunity to cultivate a deeper sense of cultural unity and foster cultural exchanges.

“All works transcend borders, race and culture,” said Zhang Yimou, a renowned Chinese director and chairman of the inaugural Golden Panda Awards jury. “Good works serve as a bridge that connects people from all around the world who appreciate art and beauty, as well as inspiring and thought-provoking creations.”

At the first Golden Panda International Culture Forum on the sidelines of the Golden Panda Awards, more than 300 Chinese and foreign participants engaged in in-depth exchanges on implementing the Global Civilization Initiative, deepening cultural exchange, and jointly building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Nabil Fahmy, former foreign minister of Egypt, said that art is a key medium through which people of different countries can understand each other’s culture and civilization.

The panda has been a fitting cultural symbol of the Golden Panda Awards. U.S. special effects artist, Douglas Smith, said that the reason why giant pandas are so attractive is largely because they present a comfortable and desirable way of life. “We bring our daughter to China every summer to let her learn about Chinese culture. My love for giant pandas is beyond words,” he added. (Xinhua)