Date: June 16, 2018

Location: Hantian TV Studio, Los Angeles, USA

The 2018 Hollywood International Youth Film Festival officially launched in Los Angeles with a grand opening ceremony held at Hantian TV Studio. Organized and founded by the American Hollywood Film Academy, this event served as a preview and preparation for the inaugural Hollywood International Youth Film Festival, scheduled to take place in Hollywood in early October.

The launch ceremony was co-hosted by Arthur Peng, Vice President of the American Hollywood Film Academy and bilingual host, alongside Yang Yang, President of the Chinese American Theatre Alliance. Arthur Peng welcomed all distinguished guests on behalf of the organizing committee.

Prominent political figures in attendance included:

• Bob Jacobson, Former Mayor of Hawaii, Founder of the Hawaii Chinese Film Festival, Honorary President of the American Hollywood Film Academy, and Chairman of the Festival Preparatory Committee

• Steve Martin, Former Mayor of West Hollywood and Honorary Dean of the American Hollywood Film Academy

• Michael Cacciotti, Mayor of South Pasadena and Deputy Attorney General

• John Kennedy, Vice Mayor of Pasadena

• Samuel Kang, Council Member and Former Mayor of Duarte

• Mary Su, Mayor of Walnut

• William Man, Mayor of Temple City

• Eric Chiang, Walnut City Council Member

• Bob Huff, Former Mayor of Diamond Bar and California State Senator, along with his wife Mei Mei Ho

• Sandra Tung, Chairwoman of the American Chinese Exchange Association and Chief Planner of the Festival

• Professor Ma Wei

• Bing Ren, Founder of the American Hollywood Film Academy, renowned writer and educator

• Additional Chinese and American cultural figures, professors, and dignitaries

Hollywood industry professionals also gathered to support the festival, including: Celeste Thorson, Mel Novak, Natasha and Martin Blasick, David Lockhart, Benny Tjandra, Bob Delgadillo, Marina Kufa, Stephen Handisides, Harrison Engle, Alex Mond, Mark A. Rafter, Ben-Hur Sepehr, Heidi Lynn, Farzam Kamalabadi, Iraj Kamalabadi, Greg Simkovich, David Gustafson, Jade Polvani, Cerline Wang, May Chang, Fong Captain, Bruce Wen, Zhou Zheng, and 15 representatives from the 21st Dancing with Films International Film Festival.

Speeches were delivered by several key figures:

• Professor Robert Schuenmann, Executive Dean of the Academy, emphasized the Academy’s achievements under founder Bing Ren and its future goals.

• Steve Martin encouraged youth to pursue their passion for filmmaking.

• Sandra Tung expressed warm wishes for the festival’s success.

• Fong Captain, Clio Award-winning designer, shared his artistic vision.

• Zhang Xue, Head of the Chinese Delegation to Dancing with Films, spoke on international exchange.

• Bob Huff and Mei Mei Ho expressed their support for the inaugural festival.

• Mel Novak, Celeste Thorson, Benny Tjandra, Stephen Handisides, and Marina Kufa spoke on behalf of the entertainment industry.

The highlight came when Chairman Bob Jacobson officially announced the opening of the 2018 Hollywood International Youth Film Festival. All dignitaries, filmmakers, and special guests joined on stage for the launch ceremony.

This year’s festival aims to inspire a love for filmmaking, performance, and cinematic arts among the younger generation, discover and promote emerging talent, and deepen cross-cultural exchange between China, the United States, and the global film industry.

The Chinese films showcased in the festival were authorized and provided by the China (Kunming) Golden Peacock Youth Film Festival, with strong support from Yunnan Yuan Chuan Cultural Industry Co., Ltd. The Golden Peacock Youth Film Festival is committed to supporting young Chinese filmmakers through financing, screenings, forums, and copyright platforms, and will maintain a long-term partnership with the Hollywood International Youth Film Festival.

The event received widespread media coverage. U.S. outlets included MXS News, US News Union, Hantian TV, All America Television, National U.S. Television, Huaxia TV, World Journal, the American Hollywood Film Academy, World Youth Times, and Sunshine TV. Chinese media coverage included People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, China News Service, CCTV, Phoenix TV, United Daily News, China.com, Ifeng, Sina, Tencent, Sohu, NetEase, and hundreds of other mainstream Chinese news platforms, newspapers, and broadcasters.