This year’s theme is Modern China Through My Eyes. We encourage teachers to support students in using their creativity and Chinese language skills to share what interests, surprises, or inspires them about China today.

Videos could explore contemporary Chinese language and culture, daily life, education, technology, innovation, the environment, the arts, food, communities, or any other aspect of modern China. Students may also explore the connections, similarities, and differences between China and their own country, language or culture. They could reflect on how learning Chinese has helped them better understand China and Chinese culture, while also seeing their own language and culture from a new perspective.

We welcome videos that are original, engaging, culturally meaningful, and closely connected to the theme. Creative storytelling, thoughtful cultural comparisons, humour, and ideas that help others learn more about Chinese language and culture are all encouraged.

***Download the registration form below, complete it, and email the completed form to nzshortvideocompetition@gmail.com.***

Requirements

• Videos must be presented in Chinese.
• Videos must be no longer than five minutes.
• Each school may submit up to five entries. Each video may feature an individual student or a small group of students.
• Entries must include live-action content. AI-generated or animated videos will not be accepted.
• Videos must be filmed in landscape orientation and submitted in MP4 format. No other formats will be accepted.

Categories

• Primary School: Years 1–8
• Secondary School: Years 9–13
• Tertiary Institutions

Within each education level, entries will also be identified in one of the following learner categories: 

• Non-native Chinese Speaker: students who do not have Chinese as a home or heritage language
• Chinese Heritage Speaker: students who have a family or community connection to Chinese and some prior exposure to the language

Students in both learner categories are equally welcome. Judges will consider students’ age, learning experience, and language background when assessing Chinese language use.

Judging Criteria

Entries will be judged primarily on:

• How well the video connects to the theme “Modern China Through My Eyes”
• Creativity, originality, and audience appeal
• Storytelling, performance, and overall presentation
• Cultural content and understanding
• Meaningful exploration of cultural connections and differences, where relevant
• Appropriate and effective use of Chinese

Awards will be presented for:

• Best Video
• Best Language
• Best Performance
• Best Teacher Mentor
• Best Organising School

Timetable

All registration and essay submission to nzshortvideocompetition@gmail.com by 5.00pm on Wednesday, 16 September 2026.

Kindly note – The teacher submitting the entry must ensure that the school has obtained written consent for the use of the image, voice, and video footage of every identifiable person appearing in the video. For participants under the age of 18, consent must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian. By entering the competition, schools and participants grant the organisers permission to use, reproduce, display, publish, and share the submitted video, including any images, footage, voices, names, and likenesses appearing in it, for educational, research, promotional, and other non-commercial purposes.

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