BCI Short Video Competition 2026 Winners Announced

Now in its second year, the competition invited students, staff, alumni and members of the wider BCI community to create short videos exploring Chinese language, Chinese culture and the experiences that connect them to the Confucius Institute. Participants were encouraged to share authentic stories, celebrate cultural exchange and demonstrate the many ways Chinese language and culture have influenced their lives.

This year's competition attracted a range of engaging submissions, with entrants showcasing everything from life in Leeds and traditional cultural activities to personal reflections on studying and travelling in China. The judging panel was impressed by the creativity, storytelling and enthusiasm demonstrated across the entries.

Winners

🥇 First Place

Yujie Hu
Leeds 10 PM 

Taking first place was Yujie Hu with Leeds 10 PM (利兹晚上10点). The winning video impressed judges with its creative approach and engaging portrayal of life in Leeds, offering viewers a thoughtful perspective on everyday student experiences through a cross-cultural lens.

You can view the video on our YouTube channel here

🥈 Second Place

Xiaoyi Cai
Learning Qilin Dance at Chinese School

Second place was awarded to Xiaoyi Cai for Learning Qilin Dance at Chinese School. The video explored an important aspect of traditional Chinese culture and highlighted the role cultural activities play in connecting younger generations with their heritage.

 

🥉 Third Place

Abdulrahman Mahmoud Abdelkadir
A Summer in China: My Experience with the Confucius Institute

Third place went to Abdulrahman Mahmoud Abdelkadir for A Summer in China: My Experience with the Confucius Institute. Through personal reflections and experiences, the video showcased how language learning and cultural exchange can create meaningful opportunities, broaden perspectives and foster international understanding.

 

Celebrating Language, Culture and Connection

The competition featured three suggested themes: Confucius Institute Stories, Chinese Language Around the World and Chinese+ Innovation and Opportunity. Together, the submissions demonstrated the important role that Chinese language education and cultural engagement continue to play in building connections between people and communities across the world.

The entries also reflected the diversity of the BCI community, highlighting experiences from learners at different stages of their Chinese language journey and showcasing the many ways participants engage with Chinese culture both locally and internationally.

Looking Ahead to the Global Competition

As part of the competition, the top BCI entries will now be submitted to the 6th CI Moments Global Short Video Competition, an international competition organised independently by the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC).

The global competition brings together outstanding video submissions from Confucius Institutes around the world, providing participants with the opportunity to share their stories with an international audience and compete for prestigious global awards.

The results of the 6th CI Moments Global Short Video Competition have not yet been announced. We wish our participants every success and look forward to sharing any achievements when the international results are released.

Thank You to All Participants

The BCI would like to thank everyone who submitted a video and contributed to this year's competition. The quality of the entries demonstrated the talent, creativity and enthusiasm that exist throughout our community.

Congratulations once again to Yujie Hu, Xiaoyi Cai and Abdulrahman Mahmoud Abdelkadir on their success, and thank you to all participants for helping make the 2026 BCI Short Video Competition another memorable celebration of Chinese language, culture and international friendship.