Viet Nam News
HCM CITY – The Nha Bien Kich Tai Nang (Talented Screenwriter) contest is accepting film screenplays in all genres, except science fiction, from 18 to 35-year-old Vietnamese.
Contestants can send three screenplay outlines of no more than 1,000 words each to the website http://nhabienkichtainang.com, or via email info@nhabienkichtainang.com by August 12.
In September, the organiser and professional filmmakers will announce the 20 best contestants, who will be divided into five groups of four each.
Each group will learn about screenplay writing and filmmaking with one of five coaches.
The coaches are director and screenwriter Kay Nguyen, director Dinh Tuan Vu, director Ly Hai, screenwriter Tran Khanh Hoang, and the filmmaker-director Duc Thinh and his partner, producer Thanh Thuy.
The contest will help nurture talented writers who are needed in the local movie industry, which lacks good screenplays, according to Kay Nguyen.
“The contest creates an opportunity for young people to approach the movie industry, and learn how to bring their story to the big screen,” said Kay, a graduate of Grinnell College in the US who was the screenwriter and director of Co Ba Sai Gon (The Tailor) about the traditional ao dai. The film won the Best Feature Film at the Golden Kite Awards in April.
In mid-October, the coaches will select the best 10 scripts from 10 contestants, who will present their works to prestigious Vietnamese film producers.
The awards ceremony will be held on October 25 in HCM City.
The winner will receive a cash prize of VND60 million (US$2,600) and will spend a year working with Vietnamese–American director Charlie Nguyen.
Charlie is popular among Vietnamese audiences for his action and comedy films, such as Dong Mau Anh Hung (The Rebel), De Mai Tinh (Fool for Love), Cuoi Ngay Keo Lo (Love Puzzle), and rock music movie Fan Cuong (Fanatic).
The top three contestants will attend a short-term filmmaking course in South Korea.
Nha Bien Kich Tai Nang is co-organised by CJ CGV Vietnam and Korea-based Centre for Media Literacy and Education. It aims to nurture rising talents in the Vietnamese cinema industry
Last year, the contest saw 3,800 entries. Vo Anh Vu won top prize with the screenplay Con Duong (Road).
Though the work is a comedy, the humorous situation acts as a metaphor for capricious conflicts in society. – VNS