關於年度主題
CNEX是一個以視覺影像為核心媒介的平臺。CNEX，See NEXt；但，要看什麼？怎麼看？
CNEX希望有系統有組織地對華人當代社會的變遷歷程進行測繪與紀錄，因此，每年將策劃一個大主題，來勾勒當年的方向。古人有雲：因指見月。年度主題就像那根指頭，導引觀者看到夜空的明月；在這主題之下，我們將搜羅或支持或創作紀實影像、圖片、文字作品、裝置藝術…等等，讓紀錄者與創作者能夠在年度主題之下，依其所見，表現出明月的圓或缺、明或暗、升或降，共同創造出該年度深具影響力的文化產品與事件。
年度主題的設定，將盡量貼近當代華人生活與生命的核心，並且與當時的重大事件或是社會潮流有暗合之處，俾使紀錄者跟創作者能夠透過對於事件與潮流本身的測繪，或對其震波的捕捉，而能夠準確、即時而有力地傳達生活與生命的能量動線，留下時代的見證。
CNEX每年舉辦年度主題工作坊，邀請華人地區青年導演提案，並請資深導演以及相關專家與會，評選出最佳方案給予拍攝補助。另外也舉辦網路紀實影片徵集競賽，讓更多的年輕網友有參與以及表達的機會。CNEX也會邀請文字工作者、攝影工作者以及藝術家，針對主題創作作品或發表專文。
除了華人對自己週遭的觀察紀錄之外，CNEX也歡迎來自世界各地的朋友針對年度主題提出對於華人社會的看法；CNEX並且將搜羅其他文明、國家與地區，跟年度主題相關的紀實影像與視覺作品，以延伸認知、拓展視野。
綱舉而目張，年度主題就像經線，圍繞主題創作的作品就像緯線。CNEX期待在十年之後，透過十個年度主題，以及無數的作品的經緯交織，可以編織出一張足夠份量的21世紀華人社會變遷地圖，以供當代參酌、供後世引鑒。
About the Annual Theme
CNEX is a visual platform. CNEX, see NEXt. So, what will we see, and how do we see it?
CNEX aims to systematically record and preserve the evolution of contemporary Chinese society. We select a major theme each year to serve as a bearing for the historical development of that year. As the ancient Chinese say, follow the pointing direction of the finger and you will see the moon. The annual theme is like the finger that points the viewer to the moon in the sky. Under the chosen theme, we collect, support and create nonfiction visual and audio documents as well as artworks of other forms. The creators may give their own representations of the changes happening in the year under the general theme and create influential artworks and events for the year.
The annual theme is selected such that it is at the center of the life of contemporary Chinese, and reflects the major social developments. Through the representation of the events and undercurrents related to the theme, artists may accurately, timely, and powerfully grasp the energy and evolution of the Chinese society to produce a memoir of the times.
CNEX organizes workshop on the theme of the year. Young Chinese directors submit relevant film proposals, which are to be screened and selected by senior directors and experts. The chosen proposals will be produced in association with CNEX. At the same time, CNEX organizes an online film submission, providing more opportunities for the young netizens to participate and express themselves. To broaden the scope, CNEX also invites writers, photographers, and artists to create works about the annual theme.
Besides observing and recording by Chinese, CNEX also welcomes friends from all over the world to share their thoughts about Chinese on the annual themes. On the other hand, CNEX will invite and exhibit the nonfiction visual works from other countries and regions that are undergoing similar social changes so as to broaden our horizon.
With a relevant annual theme in place every year to inspiring artistic creation and collecting documentaries over the next ten years, CNEX expect to draw a map of social changes of Chinese societies at the beginning of the 21st century. Such a map will surely provide valuable insights for not just us now, but also for the generations to come in the future.
