Boston University professor Sam Kauff mann (center) discusses projects with students from Boston University and Beijing Normal University. Photo by Katherine Rodriguez/ for China Daily

"I hope to gain friendship and the experience to touch another culture," says Wang Yashu, a student at Beijing Normal University. That's the common goal of 24 filmmakers from the US, France and China who have strived to capture Chinese culture in a 10-minute video.

For the third year in a row, the Academy for International Communication of Chinese Culture invited students from Boston University, Emory University, and Ecole Superieure de Realsation Audiovisuelle to partner with students from Beijing Normal University and Shanghai University in the "Looking China" DV Project.

The AICCC focuses on introducing and disseminating Chinese culture worldwide. Established by BNU and International Data Group, the academy uses art and research to spread awareness of Chinese culture.

Before they arrived, students from the US and France sent proposals that explained ideas they wanted to capture once they were in Beijing. Some topics included traditional Chinese medicine, education, sports and beauty.

"Every idea is interesting because they have never come to China and they can learn a culture," says coordinator Qian Qi of the academy.