The third 86358 Short Film Festival – which evolved from a film culture salon – is drawing the best and brightest up and coming filmmakers to Jiajiazhuang village, Fenyang county, in Shanxi province, where it opened on Aug 13. 

From 80 Chinese short films that participated in its first season, to the 867 Chinese short films from around the world in its third year, the annual short film festival has become an influential and authoritative event in the film industry.

This year's short films, of which 40 percent are from overseas, are from more than 200 film and television related colleges and universities around the world and nearly 1,000 young filmmakers. 

Organizers said the seven-day short film festival features freshness as it only collects short films produced after last August, which represent the latest production level of  global Chinese short films. 

In addition to Li Yugang's short film A Date After Twilight as the opening film, this year's festival brings to attendees some 32 excellent Chinese short films from all over the world in the event's categories of Chinese Short films, Special Screenings and Made in Shanxi. 

The festival has also organized an academic dialogue, an open film class and a filmmaker's party. 

The newly added Made in Shanxi section selects eight graduate works by students from Communication University of Shanxi, to promote the film and television drama development and growth of local young filmmakers in Shanxi. 

The festival also aims to promote communications between newcomers and industry veterans through demonstrations of young filmmakers, professional filmmakers' reviews, open classes and academic dialogues. 

"Senior filmmakers also want to know what young people are paying attention to and what they want to express, by watching short films shot by young people and communicating with young filmmakers," said Xu Zhipeng, the curator of the 86358 Short Film Festival.

"The festival provides them with a good platform where they can get close to the youngest thoughts and the freshest creations," Xu added.

It's the third time that Fenyang has held the event and attracted more than 100 filmmakers. 

Ji Xiaoming, deputy mayor of Fenyang, gave a presentation on the cultural and film background of the county at the festival's opening ceremony. She recognized the short film festival's efforts and achievements in combining film culture resources with rural life and encouraging the spread of the art of film from cities to villages. 

Ji added that in the future, Fenyang will continue to support the local film industry and outstanding young filmmakers and promote the development of culture and tourism.