Gov't regulation supports local films

Blockbuster: A scene from De Mai Tinh (Fool for Love), directed by Vietnamese American Charlie Nguyen. — VNS File Photo

Under the law, which will take effect on July 7 Vietnamese film showings must be at least 20 per cent of local cinemas' total film showings and have priority during the popular 6pm to 10pm sessions every day.

Many filmmakers like the new law that will bring local films to more audiences.

The law will also help them solve distribution and scheduling problems.

The law will force many cinema owners who previously had not screened Vietnamese films to screen them. A lot of cinemas avoid screening local movies especially serious ones, or set unpopular screening times for them.

Film producer and director Ly Huynh said that finding a cinema to screen their work was local filmmakers' biggest worry.

However, many cinemas said quality films failed to attract audiences, because young people prefer romance and comedy.

Produced by the Viet Nam's Feature Film Studio 1 and directed by Bui Thac Chuyen, Choi Voi (Adrift), is a serious film that won Vietnam's top prize, the Golden Lotus, for best director at the 16th Viet Nam Film Festival 2009.

The film was distributed by a HCM City-based private filmmaker and distributor Thien Ngan (Galaxy) Studio at few cinemas in HCM City and Ha Noi for two shows at noon, but audience numbers dwindled quickly.

On the other hand, a love story about a female singer and a cleaner, De Mai Tinh (Fool for Love), that was directed by Vietnamese American Charlie Nguyen, attracted thousands of young people who lined up outside cinemas to buy tickets.

The entertaining film, produced by Galaxy Studio, attracted more than 45,000 people at cinemas around the city, earning more than VND2 billion (nearly US$100,000) at the box office in the first three days of its release.

"I like De Mai Tinh. It was funny and helped me relax," said a young viewer, Nguyen Thu Thao, of District 3. She said she also saw Choi Voi, but it made her feel confused.

Viet Nam's movie fans are now divided into two groups – young audiences who love entertainment and a few who love serious films, said Chuyen, director of Choi Voi.

Galaxy is ready to support Vietnamese films, whether serious or entertaining, but businesses need profits, said Phan To Hong Hai, exhibition division director of Galaxy.

While filmmakers will be certain of the distribution for their films, many cinema owners think there won't be enough films to fill 20 per cent of their screenings.

Compared to a few years ago, the number of imported films, mostly from the US and Korea, has increased in Viet Nam because Viet Nam-based film distributors have deals with big foreign film studios. For example Galaxy has deals with Warner Bros and Sony Entertainment and foreign-invested film distributor Megastar Media has contracts with Twentieth Century Fox.

Viet Nam-based film distributors now present from 10 to 12 new foreign movies to cinemas every month.

Megastar screens four to five foreign movies; Galaxy - three movies; the city-based film producer and distributor BHD - two movies; and Korean company Lotte Cinema and city-based Saigon Movies media (Cinebox) - one movie a month.

According to the law, cinema owners must screen at least two Vietnamese films in a week, but Vietnamese filmmakers often only make ten films a year.

In the first six months of this year, local filmmakers released only eight films, mostly light entertainment, while 60 foreign films were screened at the cinemas.

Although the local film industry has developed rapidly in recent years, the subject matter hasn't been interesting enough to lure audiences to cinemas, said a film producer in HCM City.

The new Cinematography Law and the Amendment Law on the number of shows of Vietnamese films at local cinemas should make the regulations clear for both filmmakers and cinemas to ensure the number and quality of Vietnamese films screened at cinemas, he said. — VNS