Cross - Discipline Categories
Video Art + Music
The Video Art category invites students to explore storytelling and artistic expression through moving images. Video art goes beyond traditional filmmaking by combining visual composition, sound, editing, and narrative to create a unique artistic experience. Participants are encouraged to experiment with different styles, such as narrative films, experimental videos, visual essays, or concept-driven works.
Projects may incorporate elements such as cinematography, sound design, animation, digital effects, or performance. The goal is not only to tell a story, but also to explore how visual language, rhythm, and imagery can communicate ideas, emotions, or perspectives.
Evaluation will focus on concept and storytelling, visual composition and editing, and the overall artistic impact of the work. Judges will consider how effectively the video uses moving images, sound, and pacing to create a cohesive and engaging piece. This category encourages students to use video as a creative medium to explore ideas, experiment with visual storytelling, and develop their voice in contemporary digital art.
Sub-category
Short video (animation/film)
Students are encouraged to follow their imagination and create a story of their own—bringing it to life through filming and short film production!
They can use software such as After Effects, Premiere, Blender, or similar tools to produce their short films. The final piece should not exceed 2 minutes in length.
Music Video
Do you enjoy creating music? This cross-disciplinary category gives you the opportunity to produce a music video for your own original composition. You can express your music through illustration, animation, or live-action video editing.
All elements must be entirely original and created by the student—no pre-existing music or footage may be used.
The final music video must not exceed 6 minutes in length.
Our Judges
Yiming Wu
Yiming Wu is an internationally acclaimed composer and music educator. His works have been performed around the world by renowned ensembles such as the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Guides, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, and the Occasional Symphony in the United States.
Wu graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in China and the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. In 2006, he became the first Chinese composer and the youngest recipient to win the Toru Takemitsu Composition Award. In 2008, he won second place in the Harelbeke International Composition Competition in Belgium—marking the first time a Chinese wind symphony received an international composition award. In 2010, he became the youngest and only Chinese composer to receive the BMW Composition Prize from the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
In 2017, he founded the Mayflower Art Center in the U.S., dedicated to cultivating interdisciplinary musical talent. In 2022, he launched the MusicON International Music Festival.
Michael Shi
Michael Shi is a professional photographer based in New York, known for his distinctive artistic vision and innovative use of light and color, particularly in dance photography. His work explores the expressive potential of movement and visual storytelling, capturing the beauty and complexity of human narratives.
His photography has received international recognition, including awards from PX3 (Prix de la Photographie Paris), IPA (International Photography Awards), FAPA (Fine Art Photography Awards), and MIFA (Moscow International Foto Awards). His work has been exhibited globally, with solo exhibitions in New York and Shanghai and group exhibitions across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Submission Guidelines
1. Individual or Group Work
Submissions may be individual or group projects (maximum of 4 participants).
2. Video Submission Instructions
Submit videos via a publicly accessible link that can be opened without restrictions. Accepted platforms include:
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Google Drive (set permission to “Anyone with the link can view”)
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Behance
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Personal Website
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YouTube (shareable link)
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Vimeo (shareable link)
File names must follow the format: "Firstname_Lastname_ArtworkTitle" and must be submitted in both Pinyin and English. Please refer to the official website for full submission details.