The Morning Star Awards Chinese Original Science Fiction Contests has come to a close, and science fiction stars are rising rapidly

On the evening of December 11th, the award ceremony for the 2021 Morning Star Awards  Chinese Original Science Fiction Literature Contests and Morning Star Awards  Chinese Original Science Fiction Art Contests was held at the Shenzhen Shekou Metaverse Innovation Laboratory. This competition is guided by the China Association for Science and Technology, organized by the Office of the Shenzhen Reading Month Organizing Committee, the Shenzhen Writers Association, the Shenzhen Association for Science and Technology, the Nanshan District Science and Technology Association of Shenzhen, and the Shenzhen Ether Science Fiction Creative Development Center. It is funded by the Science & Fantasy Growth Foundation and supported by the Shenzhen Promotion and Cultural Development Special Fund. The competition started soliciting submissions and lasted for six months, with many outstanding science fiction original works with different styles winning awards.

Nearly 200 industry representatives, including Sun Nan, member of the Party Group of Shenzhen Association for Science and Technology, Qiu Gan, full-time deputy director of the Office of Shenzhen Reading Month Organizing Committee, member of the Party Committee and deputy general manager of Shenzhen Publishing Group Co., Ltd., Li Song, director of Shenzhen Science and Technology Development Exchange Center, Wang Jinkang, a leading figure in science fiction in China, Mu Zhifei, executive director of China Academy of Film and Art, Zhang Xianna, director of the Science Popularization Department of Nanshan District Association for Science and Technology, young science fiction writers Xia Jia, Wang Nuonuo, Liu Yang, internationally renowned concept designer Xiao Zhuangyue, Xiao Yong, general manager of Global Digital, children's science fiction writer Ma Chuansi, best-selling interactive script game writer Zhang Sen, Chen Zanwei, head of animation major at Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Ma Guobin, chairman of Science & Fantasy Growth Foundation, and Min Hua, CEO of Mitu Digital. Media representatives and science fiction fans attended the award ceremony.

Sun Nan, a member of the Party Group of Shenzhen Association for Science and Technology, stated in his speech that the Morning Star Awards  Chinese Original Science Fiction Contests helps to promote cultural confidence and prosper science fiction popular science creation. The competition can fully utilize the advantages of Shenzhen, gather science fiction creative forces from Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao, and domestic and foreign science fiction enthusiasts. It can not only expand the scope of creation, but also spread science fiction culture to a wider audience, tell Chinese people's own science fiction stories well, and promote international cultural exchanges.

Qiu Gan, the full-time deputy director of the Shenzhen Reading Month Organizing Committee Office, member of the Party Committee of Shenzhen Publishing Group Co., Ltd., and deputy general manager, pointed out in his speech that the Science & Fantasy Growth Foundation's Morning Star Awards  Chinese Original Science Fiction Contests has been a key activity of Shenzhen Reading Month for four consecutive years, adding a sci-fi color and atmosphere to the annual Reading Month. Science fiction is not only the best carrier of science popularization, but also an internationally recognized important means of transforming "creativity" into "culture" and ultimately promoting the forward-looking development of "technology". It is the first comprehensive industry that can network and connect diverse and multidimensional resources such as technology, cultural creativity, and talent.

Ma Guobin, initiator and chairman of the Science & Fantasy Growth Foundation, believes in his speech that the seven years of cultivation in the Morning Star series of science fiction competitions have not only provided a large number of personal development opportunities for science fiction creators across the country, but also brought a lot of fresh blood to domestic science fiction creation. From a social perspective, science fiction works carry people's imaginations and prospects for the future, embodying their creativity, imagination, and adventurous spirit. The technological aesthetics they showcase are constantly breaking through people's existing cognition.

Before the official award ceremony, the audience enjoyed the concept short film of Shenzhen Science Fiction Week, as well as video interviews and blessings from members of the Nantes International Science Fiction Festival Organizing Committee in France.

It is reported that since the launch of the 2021 Morning Star Science Fiction Literature and Art Awards in the first half of the year, more than 900 submissions have been received, a slight increase from last year. Qi Ran, the author who won the Best Medium length Science Fiction Novel, was surprised by the award, but at the same time, he is also happy to officially enter the science fiction circle and work with senior teachers to create science fiction for China. Wang Jinkang, a leading figure in domestic science fiction and supervisor of the Science & Fantasy Growth Foundation, believes that the Morning Star Award has persisted for seven years, cultivating a group of new science fiction talents, and making it possible for China's science fiction industry to continue. He believes that in the future, there should be a science fiction film production company in Shenzhen. Sanfeng, the chairman of the Morning Star Cup Science Fiction Literature Competition, believes that many young authors who submitted their works this time demonstrate a high level of literary literacy and science fiction creativity, and the vast majority of the shortlisted and nominated works are from new authors. This undoubtedly continues to make the Morning Star Award a growth platform for top science fiction talents in China.

Lu Yicheng, who won the Best Science Fiction Video award, said that he has loved science fiction since childhood because his inspiration is constantly flowing in science fiction. Mu Zhifei, Executive Director of the China Film Art Society, stated in an interview that the works of the Morning Star Awards  Chinese Original Science Fiction Art Contests have a unique language of fantasy art, design thinking, full scene design, and meet industry standards, which is commendable. Xiao Mei, the chairman of the Morning Star Cup Science Fiction Art Competition, believes that this year's submissions involve more than 10 professional universities, art institutes, and more than 20 professional institutions across the country. The quality of the works is excellent, especially in the fields of children's science fiction paintings and science fiction picture books, where a large number of outstanding works have emerged with skilled techniques and good visual and light effects.

This award ceremony is an annual science fiction event, and the organizers have specially invited drama director Wu Kecan to produce an immersive evening party that combines science fiction and art. She stated that the science fiction themed form provides great creative space, enhancing the audience's experience of being immersed in it through new forms of digital art expression.