HA NOI — The first Viet Nam International Film Festival will take place in Ha Noi from October 17-21 and feature 60 movies, including documentaries, animation and short films.
Some of best recent Vietnamese films will be screened with English subtitles at the festival, which is part of a diverse programme of events to celebrate the capital city's 1,000th anniversary in October.
The festival aims to promote film-makers from Southeast Asia and help further foster a cinema-going culture to Viet Nam, where box office taking are increasing following the construction of new cinema multiplexes.
As the first major cinema event in Viet Nam, it also aims to develop co-operation between regional and international film-makers.
There will be prizes awarded in several categories including best feature film, best short film, best documentary, best director, best actress and best actor. A filmmaking workshop on the sidelines of the festival will also award the best Vietnamese movie-making project with US$25,000 in funds for production. The five-member jury board will include one Vietnamese judge.
UniFrance, an association that promotes French cinema, will introduce several French films at the festival.
Film-makers who want to submit their work for screening at the festival have to register their entries by August 8. Details on the festival programme will be announced early in September.
The opening and closing ceremonies for the festival will take place at National Convention Centre. — VNS