The Greek short film “Christos and Dimitra” by director Amerissa Basta received third place at the first ever EU-China Short Film Festival, a platform to showcase some of the short films produced during recent years in the EU and China and to encourage professional dialogue between European and Chinese filmmakers and fans.

Thirty-six filmmakers from 21 countries in the EU and 42 from China competed at the 1st EU-China Short Film Festival. The films were reviewed by a six-member jury, comprising 3 European and 3 Chinese jury members - all with a background in the film and cultural industries. European jury members ranked the Chinese films, while Chinese jury members ranked the European works.

The award ceremony took place at the premises of the EU Delegation in China, on 28 September, organized by the EU Representation, the Chinese magazine “The World and China” and China New Youth Cinemas Beijing Ltd.

Addressing the audience at the ceremony, EU Ambassador to China, Hans Dietmar Schweisgut, noted that the films highlight the diversity and heterogeneity, but also the common elements between cultures. In the course of the ceremony, the trailers of all winning films were screened.

Amerissa Basta’s 13-minute film (2015) is a comedy revolving around 8-year old Christos who wants to attend with his girlfriend of same age Dimitra, the performance of “Romeo and Juliet” by a touring troupe that has visited their village. But things will not turn out to be that easy for Christos, who will have to overcome obstacles and take brave decisions.