The upcoming 16th Chinese American Film Festival (CAFF) and Chinese American TV Festival (CATF) will be an all-digital event next month due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers said Thursday. This will be a first in the history of these events.

Zhang Ping, Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles delivers a speech at the opening ceremony in the 14th Chinese American Film Festival (CAFF) and Chinese American TV Festival (CATF). (Photo: VCG)

Founded in 2005 by EDI Media Inc., Chinese American Film Festival is an annual China-U.S. cultural event held in Los Angeles to connect two of world's largest film markets.

Nearly 400 film and television works will participate in the festival scheduled from November 7 to 13. The organizers will specially establish the "Love and Hope Humanitarian Award" to recognize the excellent film and TV works about health care workers and other first responders, according to the chairman of CAFF and CATF, and chairman of EDI Media Inc., James Su.

Dozens of mainstream Chinese and American film and television companies and institutions, including Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal, Sony, Disney, Lionsgate, IMAX, China Film Co., Ltd., and Shanghai Film Group, sent congratulatory letters to support the festivals.

Nearly 30 honorable guests from the Chinese and American film and television industries, including many Oscar winners and Emmy award winners, will share their opinions on topics such as "the challenges and opportunities of the film industry in the post-pandemic era" during the online summit.

Hundreds of Chinese and American film and television companies have registered the film and television works in the online market and will negotiate business cooperation, according to a press release from the organizers.

"The festival has been a major communication and exchange platform for Chinese and American filmmakers in the past years," said Gu Jin, the cultural consul of the Chinese Consulate-General in Los Angeles.

"Although the event had to be moved online amid the pandemic, it still reflects the organizers' tireless efforts and persistent pursuit to promote cooperation between Chinese and U.S. film industry," he added.

Co-chair of the Chinese American Film Festival, Andre Morgan, a renowned Hollywood producer, said he has watched the struggles of the organizers in the past 16 years, noting the event is "a bridge between the East and the West, between China and Hollywood, and most importantly, between the Chinese film industry and Hollywood."