The first Youth Film Festival, which focuses on rising Chinese directors and their works, will kick off in Xining, capital of Qinghai province, on July 19 and last 10 days.

The festival tries to discover talent among young directors.

Renowned filmmakers, such as Hsu Feng, producer of the acclaimed Farewell My Concubine, and veteran director Stanley Tong, will work with 31 university students to select winners.

Almost 300 filmmakers, including actress Zhang Ziyi and director Gu Changwei, will attend the festival's various sections, such as a film trade market and a workshop for young directors.