Xizang Internet Photography & Video Festival wraps up with awards ceremony in Lhasa

The 5th China Xizang Internet Photography & Video Festival awards ceremony was held on Friday in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. 

The festival, which was launched in September 2024, was guided by the Bureau of Cyber Communications of the CAC and the Publicity Department of the CPC Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee. It was hosted by the Xizang Regional Cyberspace Administration and organized by CIIC.

Since its launch, the event has attracted more than 140,000 submissions from around the world, showcasing Xizang's social development, cultural heritage, natural landscapes and everyday life. It has become a vital platform for showcasing the region's new face in the new era, generating more than 3 billion online views and interactions nationwide, with overseas dissemination exceeding 800 million views.

After four rounds of expert review, a total of 108 entries were selected across four categories: photos, short videos (including animation), songs, and micro-movies. Each category awarded one first prize, two second prizes, and three third prizes, along with several most popular and participation awards. These winning works offered diverse and compelling perspectives on Xizang's transformation, highlighting its cultural appeal and development momentum, and drawing widespread interest both domestically and internationally.

This year's festival notably featured international contributions. Foreign vloggers such as Raz Galor from Israel, Hannah Wilson from the U.K., and Gonzales Brian Alejendro from Argentina, shared their experiences in Xizang, showing viewers a true taste of life on the plateau by visiting local homes, sampling cuisine, learning instruments, and wearing Tibetan traditional clothing. Their perspectives highlighted local people's love for life and the harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, earning them a third prize in the micro-film category and an honorable mention in the photography category. Additionally, Japanese artist Masaaki Honda's song "Bright Days of Xizang," which beautifully captured the tranquility and grounded feeling of the region, won the most popular award in the song category.

A concurrent photography exhibition was also held, offering audiences a visual gateway into Xizang's diverse and dynamic appeal. With contributions from photography enthusiasts around the globe, the exhibition featured everything from sacred mountains and serene lakes to bustling towns, traditional rituals, and modern innovations. Each image told a unique story, collectively composing a compelling visual narrative of Xizang's ongoing transformation.