Expat Eye GBA Video Contest Winners Awarded at Ceremony on Saturday

Now Shenzhen   |   January 16, 2023
Zhang Zhongliang (L), deputy director-general of the Shenzhen Municipal Cyberspace Affairs Office, Chen Xun (R), deputy editor-in-chief of Shenzhen News Group, and first-prize winners of the Expats Eye GBA Short Video Contest (from 2nd L) Li Hongwei, Rafa Saavedra, Píotr Lukasz Blaszak, Daniel Miller, Angelo Castagneto, and Kennis Hui, a director and editor from K’s Miracle Workshop, pose for a photo at the award ceremony at Shenzhen Book City CBD Store in Futian District on Saturday.   Photos by Sun Yuchen and Liu Xudong
(From L to R) Píotr Lukasz Blaszak, a first and second-prize winner, Karla Judith Perez, a second and third-prize winner, and Stéphane Genard, a second-prize winner, deliver speeches at the ceremony.
Diego Alexander Alcala-Gaona, a third-prize winner, holds his three-month-old baby in his arms to accept the award.
Shen Xianzhi (L), editor-in-chief of Shenzhen Daily, and second-prize winners (from 2nd L to R) Marlon E. Viillaverde, Píotr Lukasz Blaszak, Karla Judith Perez and Stéphane Genard gesture at the ceremony.
Third-prize winners (from 2nd L to R) Diego Alexander Alcala-Gaona, Vilchinskaia Marina, Daniel Miller, Jennifer Xie, Amlan Ronald Aparajit, Dipti Shivajirao Mali, Karla Judith Perez and Kim Eun-vit have a group photo.
(From L to R) Briana Francois, Holland Mehr Lutgen and Gou Mingyue’s friend, Jang Yun-su, Aldiyar Omirkul and Olga Sapunova’s friend receive the entry-prize certificates.

FOCUSING on various themes ranging from special delicacies, modern infrastructure to beautiful scenery, a total of 26 selected works for the Expats Eye GBA Short Video Contest presents the enchantment of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), which wowed audiences at the award ceremony held Saturday at the Shenzhen Book City CBD Store in Futian District.

A total of five first prizes, five second prizes, 10 third prizes, and six entry prizes were awarded at the ceremony.

Zhang Zhongliang, deputy director-general of the Shenzhen Municipal Cyberspace Affairs Office, said at the ceremony that “as a pilot demonstration area, Shenzhen is witnessing miracles and creating history all the time. In this city, people are amazed and their creativity is inspired. We all are lucky to be part of Shenzhen’s growth, and the tellers of her great stories.”

Zhang added that the efforts of all the participants of the contest who have used short videos to share their personal experiences and beautiful stories embody the true value of the contest.

The aim of the contest is to collect from expat content creators and teams various short videos about the GBA, through which the expats’ exclusive views on and colorful life in the GBA are demonstrated. The organizing committee of the contest received nearly 40 videos submitted by more than 30 contestants from 15 countries.

Píotr Lukasz Blaszak from Poland, winner of both a first and a second prize in the contest, said the Chinese culture as well as Shenzhen where he is currently residing have been the source of inspiration for him.

“Shenzhen is a global technology hub, and it’s inspiring to see its rapid development … The video contest gave me the opportunity to combine my interests in video production, Chinese culture and Shenzhen, and I’m grateful to the organizers and judges for providing me this opportunity to participate and for recognizing my work,” said Píotr.

In his two winning works, Píotr explained reasons why he thinks the Sea World area in Shekou is the best place for expats to live in Shenzhen, and shared his story with Shenzhen where he was impressed by the lush greenery, the warm torrential rain and the clouds of the city, respectively.

Angelo Castagneto from Ecuador introduced how people live a beautiful and healthy life in the GBA in his video that also won a first prize in the contest.

“It is important to relax your body and mind from stress and anxiety amid the pandemic so I decided to introduce several perfect places in the city to help people relax, for example, air volleyball venues and parks,” said Castagneto.

Castagneto suggested that the prize will encourage him to create more content about the city, and the city’s creative and young spirit is also very attractive to him.

Additionally, another first-prize winning video showing the beauty of Yanzhou Island in Zhaoqing City in the GBA with poetic narration attracted lots of audience attention.

Daniel Miller, the video creator who is currently living in Zhaoqing, believes in the power of loving kids, families, and communities and this is one of the major reasons he felt in deep love with China. The island with its people and other little tiny things like the ocean breeze can make the soul find rest and the heart find adventures.

The contest is hosted by the Information Office of Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, organized by Shenzhen Daily and supported by the Shenzhen Publicity and Culture Foundation.

ARTICLE FROM: Shenzhen Daily