Distinguished guests pose for a group photo with the giant slate representing the launch of 2015 Golden Panda North America International Short Film Festival at Vancouver Executive Airport Plaza on June 30, 2015. [DANWEI BU/FOR CHINA DAILY]

The film industry plays a role in bringing people together around the world.

The "Golden Panda" North America International Short Film Festival, which opened on Wednesday, takes its part in that process seriously.

"The film industry is a major participant in globalization," Jan Walls, president of the Canadian Society for Asian Arts and professor emeritus at Simon Fraser University, said at a press conference marking the festival's third year, at Executive Airport Plaza in Richmond, British Columbia, on Tuesday.

"Participating in a film festival like this allows our young people, our future leaders in the film industry, to not only show off their stuff, (but) also see what they are up against the world," Walls said. "It's an extraordinary opportunity for both Chinese and North Americans in the film industries."

"Today we are here to celebrate the festival's third birthday, and we feel so lucky for this 3-year old girl because she has got so many 'moms' to feed her and take care of her," said Sandy You, vice president of Orient Star Media Inc. "These 'moms' are indeed the organizers, Canadian and Chinese governments, our partners, media sponsors, judges, advisers and all the participants! She is growing up and will never be mediocre because of your love and support.”

The expanding festival connects student filmmakers and film lovers from professional schools and institutions in Vancouver, Toronto, Seattle, Los Angeles and China.

The festival also includes a new segment of one-month screenings of selected short films, which the public could view in a local theater.

This year's festival is organized by CNTV, Orient Star Media Inc, and CNTVNA.COM. Cooperating organizations include G & E Studio Vancouver Inc, Toronto Film School, University of British Columbia Theatre and Film Department, Capilano University, China Daily USA, China Lion Film Distribution (US), Art Institute of Seattle, Singtao Media Group (US), Communication University of China, China Youth Film Studio, Tourism Administration of Guangdong province, and the New Silk Road Fashion Group (China). Beijing International Micro Film Festival is this year's cooperating film festival.

Others who attended Tuesday's event were Richard Lee, B.C. MLA of Burnaby North; Bill McNulty, Richmond City Councillor; James Wang, Burnaby City Councillor; and Hua Chong, deputy general manager of China Daily's Vancouver office.

"Every year, people expect to see excellent films from the 'Golden Panda' film festival; this is the third year, and it is collaborating with more and more highly-valued cooperating organizations... the social influence reaches a higher level each year," Hua said. "I wish the 2015 film festival a great success!"

"British Columbia supports the filmmaking industry," Lee said. "When you make a film in Vancouver, the government will refund part of the cost spent in the film production. It's a great advantage for the filmmakers to consider filming here."

The festival's webpage (www.cntvna.com/gp2015) is available for all filmmakers to submit their works online, starting July 1. The page also offers an online voting section that is available after the submission deadline on Oct 11. The film with the most votes will receive the "Most Popular Short Film Online" award at the Nov 20 awards ceremony.

The other awards are: Best Picture, Best Humanistic Vision Film, Best Animated Short Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Special Jury. As in previous years, the winners will receive a weeklong cultural-immersion trip to China.