Staying true to the mission

Huang, now 89, started her career, which spanned 60 years, in literature, later expanding to include drama and film education. She eventually became the first doctoral supervisor of a film and television studies program at a Chinese university.

Huang recalls that the festival was established because Beijing Normal University decided to create a new major — film and television education — in 1992.

She led a team of six teachers to prepare for the new major. "When we were discussing what breakthroughs we could make with our major, one colleague brought up the idea of hosting a college student festival, and I felt it was worth trying," Huang says.