What is CNEX

CNEX is the short form of “Chinese Next” and “See Next”. It’s a non-profit foundation devoted to the production and promotion of documentaries of the Chinese people. CNEX strives to facilitate cultural exchange between Chinese and the rest of the world through supporting documentaries depicting contemporary Chinese – people of Chinese ethnicity, their living and their society.

CNEX aspires to become a platform supporting Chinese documentary filmmakers to enhance a sustainable strategy for the contemporary Chinese documentary making. CNEX aims to establish and develop a library of global Chinese non-fiction works to preserve visuals and cultures of Chinese communities, especially in a time of unprecedented and rapid changes happening in this ancient culture.

Who We Are

We have a great team consisting of professional filmmakers, passionate staff and volunteers, as well as an expanding advisory board. Three key founding members of CNEX are: Ben Tsiang (Chairman), Ruby Chen (CEO) and Chang Chaowei (Chief Producer).

What We Do

Annual Thematic Production
There will be a chosen theme announced annually to solicit documentary films, articles, publications, and art works through online and offline submission. This will allow CNEX to produce, collect and disseminate influential works. The goal is to preserve the development history of the Chinese people at the beginning of the 21st century to serve as a memoir for our future generations.

CNEX Documentary Film Festival
Based on the chosen theme of the year, CNEX will host a series of activities to explore and create cultural works, climaxing in the CNEX Documentary Film Festival with workshops and art exhibition

Publication and Distribution
CNEX will invite well-known commentators and culture experts from Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong for composing articles or participating in the forums on the chosen theme. It will also promote the documentaries produced and the collated intellectual achievements through diversified channels, campuses exhibitions, cultural venues, international film and TV festivals, overseas Chinese communities, as well as forms of new media.

Theme of the Year
2007: Money
2008: Dreams and Hopes
2009: Next Generation’s Homeland
2010: Crisis & Opportunity
2011: Youth & Citizenship
2012: Educate? Educate !
2013: Dissolution and Restoration of Love
2014: Security and Trust
2015: Life@Web
2016: Commitment and Accountability

CNEX Chinese Doc Forum
2010 CCDF-1
2011 CCDF-2
2012 CCDF-3
2013 CCDF-4
2014 CCDF-5
2015 CCDF-6
2016 CCDF-7
2017 CCDF-8
2018 CCDF-9
2019 CCDF-10
2020 CCDF-11
2021 CCDF-12 / IFG-1
2022 CCDF-13 / IFG-2
2023 CCDF-14 / IFG-3