BCI Short Video Competition 2026 - Over £2000 in prizes to be won!
- Date
- Monday 1 June - Friday 24 July, 2026
The Business Confucius Institute (BCI) is excited to launch its second annual Short Video Competition, open to students, staff, alumni, and members of our wider community.
We welcome creative video submissions in Chinese and/or English on themes such as learning Chinese, exploring Chinese culture, or sharing personal experiences connected to a Confucius Institute.
As well as competing for local prizes, the top ten entries will automatically be submitted to the 6th CI Moments Global Short Video Competition, giving participants the opportunity to win prizes at both the local and international level.
Timeline
1 June 2026 – Competition Opens
24 July 2026 – Deadline for Video Submission
14 August 2026 – BCI Short Video Competition Winners Announced
September 2026 – CI Moments Global Short Video Competition Winners Announced
Video Requirements
- Videos should be 10 minutes or less.
- Videos may be submitted in Chinese and/or English. Participants are encouraged to use as much Chinese as they comfortably can.
- Subtitles in both English and Chinese must be included. Please contact BCI if you require assistance.
- Accepted formats: MP4 or MOV.
- Videos must be filmed in landscape format with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1920 × 1080.
- No logos or watermarks may appear in the video.
Competition Rules
- Open to BCI students, staff, alumni, and community members with a connection to BCI.
- Videos should relate to one of the themes listed below.
- Entries must be original and must not infringe the rights of others.
- Participants are responsible for obtaining permission from anyone featured in the video.
- Content must be appropriate and free from offensive, discriminatory, or illegal material.
- The use of AI tools (e.g. AI-generated images, voice-over, scriptwriting, translation, or editing) is permitted but must be declared upon submission.
- By entering, participants agree that BCI may use submitted videos for competition and promotional purposes, including on its website and social media channels.
- The judges' decision is final.
Suggested Video Themes
Option 1: Confucius Institute Stories
Share the people, experiences, and achievements that make your Confucius Institute unique. From memorable classroom moments and cultural activities to teacher-student connections and institutional milestones, highlight how your CI promotes cultural exchange, learning, and international friendship.
Option 2: Chinese Language Around the World
Tell stories of how learning, teaching, or using Chinese has opened new opportunities and perspectives. Showcase the role of Chinese language in everyday life, cultural discovery, travel, education, and international communication, while highlighting the unique character of your local community.
Option 3: Chinese+ Innovation and Opportunity
Highlight how Chinese language is being combined with professional fields, industries, and academic disciplines. Showcase partnerships, innovative programmes, and real-world applications of "Chinese+" that help students and professionals develop practical skills and global career opportunities.
BCI Short Video Competition Prizes
🥇 1st Place: £125
🥈 2nd Place: £75
🥉 3rd Place: £50
6th CI Moments Global Short Video Competition
The top ten entries from the BCI competition will automatically be submitted to the international CI Moments Global Short Video Competition.
Each Confucius Institute may submit a maximum of ten entries to the international competition. As this limit is set by the organisers, the top ten entries from our local competition will be selected for submission.
International awards are presented across the three competition themes and include:
🏆 Grand Prize (3 winners): Certificate, trophy, and RMB 10,000
🥇 First Prize (15 winners): Certificate, trophy, and RMB 6,000
🥈 Second Prize (30 winners): Certificate, trophy, and RMB 4,000
🥉 Third Prize (100 winners): Certificate and trophy
Final Notes
- Be creative, have fun, and tell a story that matters to you.
- Whether you are a beginner or an advanced Chinese speaker, we encourage everyone to take part.
- Authentic and personal stories are often the most memorable.
- Follow the guidelines carefully to ensure your entry is eligible for both the BCI and CI Moments competitions.
- If you need help with subtitles, translation, or technical requirements, the BCI team is happy to assist.
How to Submit
Submit your entry to [email protected] by 24 July 2026.
Please include:
- The title of your video in both English and Chinese.
- A short video description in both English and Chinese.
- Your full name.
- Your date of birth.
- Your affiliation with BCI (e.g. student, staff member, alumnus/alumna, or community member).
- Details of any AI tools used in the creation of the video (if applicable).
Read more about last years winner here - BCI Short Video Competition Winners! | The Business Confucius Institute at the University of Leeds