As a special initiative celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and marking a new century of Chinese children’s cinema, the 17th CICFF launched the “I Love My Motherland” Children and Youth Short Film “Golden Butterfly” Annual Recommendation Activity. Held from September 11 to October 26, 2024, this nationwide campaign invited primary and secondary school students to create 3–10 minute short films in the genres of fiction, documentary, and animation.
The goal of the “Golden Butterfly” activity is to inspire children to use the camera as a brush—capturing the majestic landscapes of their country, narrating stories of history, recording changes in their hometowns, and celebrating everyday heroes—thus fostering their creative thinking and media literacy.
After its launch, the activity received more than 1,500 film submissions from across the country. The CICFF’s Children’s Film Expert Recommendation Committee reviewed the works and selected winners in two categories: the Children’s Group and the Youth Group. The committee awarded the “Golden Butterfly” honors and presented Outstanding Organization Awards to units with significant contributions. Selected outstanding films will be showcased in both offline events and online platforms during and after the festival and will be archived in the China Children’s Film Association’s official database for long-term preservation.
Children’s Group
Annual Special Recommendation (2 films):
The Truth
Axle Inside the Axle
Annual Recommendation (6 films):
Fireflies
That Green Field
Daddy’s Chubby Girl
Air
On the Central Axis, Under Zhengyang Gate
Peace
Annual Encouragement (22 films):
“Reduced” Holiday
Red Scarf Explores “Golden Leaf”
I Can Be First Too
Love Never Left
Diversion
Harvest
Duan Duan
July
A Special “Wanted” Poster
Love Hidden in Batteries
Wanderer’s Chant in Ancient Books
My Heart’s Five-Starred Red Flag
Cold Jelly
Qu Shui Ting Street in Jinan
Germ-Killing Pet Adventure
Home of Future Technology
Charming Xiangyang
The First Overseas Chinese Residence in Lingnan – Chen Cihong Mansion
Welcome to New China
The Secret of Ceramics
As Wished
I Love My Motherland – Jinan Chapter
Annual Performance Recommendation (2 recipients):
Yu Mingxuan – “Reduced” Holiday
Zhu Haoran – Harvest
Annual Creativity Recommendation (2 recipients):
The Truth
Glory for the Nation
Youth Group
Annual Special Recommendation (2 films):
Breaking the Cocoon – Beijing No.11 School
Sorrow Tree
Annual Recommendation (7 films):
Study for the Rise of China
Secret
Eastern Ties
Tang Music Legacy
Daydream
Hometown
Metamorphosis
Annual Encouragement (20 films):
Towards the Sun
Starting Point
Weaving Dreams of the Past
Blossom
The Answer
Breaking the Cocoon – Xi’an Tieyi Middle School
Velvet Flowers
Light
Taste of Dad
The Voice of Summer Flowers
Glow – Ignite a Firefly’s Light, Heal the Mind
A Dream of Jinling
Undercurrent
Salute with Fists
No Paper
My Country and I
Plugging One’s Ears
Goodbye Summer
Bear Tracks
Second Decision
Annual Performance Recommendation (2 recipients):
Zheng Yinuo – A Dream of Jinling
Zhai Shuyao – Breaking the Cocoon
Annual Creativity Recommendation (3 recipients):
Eastern Ties
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
Secret
Outstanding Organizations
Children’s Film Education Project Team, China National Children’s Center
Shanxi Inspirational Campus Cinema Alliance
Beijing No.22 Middle School
Fengtai District Youth Palace, Beijing
Education and Sports Bureau of Huaiyin District, Jinan
