When talking about film festivals, the first that jump to mind are probably the big international fests like the Sundance, Venice and Berlin film festivals.

 

Big stars, blockbuster movies, and lavish decoration at awards ceremonies always catch media attention. But there are numerous other film festivals held each year. Though they are smaller in scale, they are essential to the nurturing of future film masters.

 

These are the hosts announcing the opening of the awards ceremony of the Corner 4 Film Festival. And just as the hosts just said, this is probably the smallest film festival in the world. The ceremony is held in a small classroom with film posters and colored paper as the wall decor. 　　

 

The spokeman introduced that there were only a little more than 20 movies taking part in the competition this time. Among them are works from art students of three Beijing universities—Beijing Normal University, Beijing Film Academy and Peking University. The films are of a wide variety—documentary, experimental and genre films—all of no more than 30 minutes. The festival is free and open to all. Anyone who knows about it can come, watch movies and cast their votes. Some even come to the ceremony without watching any films. This visitor is from a company: 　

 

And this is a student who originally didn't have time to watch the movies because of her studies, but she still managed at last. 　　　　

 

This man is already a veteran in the field; he works for a well-known program on CCTV. 　　

 

Yes, this is more a family reunion type of festival for movie lovers, and it seems they have a good time here. Listen, people are chatting. 　　

 

And these are two comedian performers. 　　

 

People are singing quite happily. The song is called We are always friends. 　　

 

The happiest thing, of course, is winning. 　　

 

For many of them, it is the first time to win an award. Their dreams start here, thanks to encouragement from their teachers and the festival director who initiates this event. 　　

 

"When you decide to do something, you should question if it is something in other people's interest as well. Once you set yourself to it, no matter how timid you may be at the very beginning and lonely during the course, no matter how crazy the idea is, you should stick to it." 　　

 

I bet everyone feels encouraged. This one won the best film award. 　　

 

"The award is very precious to me. The Corner 4 Film festival may forget me, but I will never forget the Corner 4 festival because it is the first movie that I have won a big award for." 　　

 

"I think I chose the right road, and I will try my best to stick to it." 　　

 

"I will start from the basics; for example, being the cameraman." 　

 

"I wish I could work with some renowned directors in the future." 　　

 

Best wishes to them all. 　

 

(CRI December 27, 2005)