Back in 1998, photographer Jiao Bo presented nearly 100 photos of his parents at the National Art Museum of China. At the solo exhibit, he overheard his mother say to her spouse, "Look, darling, isn't that like a film of our life during the past 30 years if we put all of them (the photos) in a line?"

Greatly inspired by those words, Jiao bought a digital video camera and focused on his parents who spent their whole life on the farmland. His documentary, entitled An'die An'niang (My Parents), won the gold prize at the 2004 CCTV DV Contest.

"They have passed away," Jiao said. "But I can still feel them alive every time I play the DV."

Jiao's enthusiasm in digital video (DV) is shared by many in the country. As more and more Chinese families can afford digital equipment, people of different ages fall in love with DV shooting. That also provides TV stations with abundant resources to explore.

Ever since its first success of "DV 2004: Our Video Stories," CCTV is again launching this year's DV contest nationwide, with the theme, "To shoulder the sun of tomorrow."

Organized by the education and science channel, or Channel 10, the 2005 DV contest concerns the growth of youngsters and the responsibilities of adults. Participants are encouraged to send out their DV productions revealing the life and the inner world of children and young students today.

"It doesn't matter at all whether you are professional or not. It is a competition for the common audience," said Li Xin, who works for Channel 10. "Your DV works are likely to be broadcast on CCTV if you have access to a digital camera as well as a cell phone with the shooting function."

Successful entrants of the first round of selection will have their DV films broadcast through one of the most popular programmes of Channel 10, "Tell of." But they will still have to stand out by presenting two more excellent digital stories with the assigned subjects before the ultimate result comes out early next year.

All competing DV works will show on television and the Internet, so that everyone could join in the selection process through the Internet and short message services.

A hundred DV correspondents will be selected among all entrants to build up a long-time co-operative relationship with "Tell of."

"Of course, we should take technique elements into consideration during the decision-making of determining which is the best," said Liang Hong, the producer of "Tell of." "But what we really care about is to share a diversity of perspectives with the audience."

(China Daily November 4, 2005)