Capturing attention: French award-winning Amour will be screened at the Haniff's sideline Panorama: Presenting Renowned Films of the World. — File Photo

HA NOI (VNS)— The second Ha Noi International Film Festival (Haniff) will be held from November 25-29 focusing on the Development and Unification of the Asia-Pacific Film Industry.

"The festival aims to encourage new talents from Viet Nam's film industry and other countries, particularly in the Asia – Pacific region, and support exchanges among global cinema," said Ngo Phuong Lan, head of the Ministry Culture, Sports and Tourism's Cinematography Department at a press conference held on Thursday at the Ha Noi Daewoo Hotel.

The festival organisers have received more than 200 entries from 38 Asian and European countries and regions.

Ten new films from the Asia – Pacific region will be premiered at the festival, competing in the best feature film category.

More than 30 Vietnamese feature films were selected for the Country Focus category, focusing on the renewal stage and contemporary movies in the 2010 – 2012 period.

It is the first time this many Vietnamese feature films will be screened at an international film festival.

"This event not only contributes to promoting Vietnamese cinema to international friends, but also gives Vietnamese audiences the opportunity to enjoy many remarkable films about Viet Nam," said Lan.

A three-day Haniff Campus will be held bringing emerging talents and seasoned film professionals together. The campus will offer film professionals a platform to refresh views, discover new horizons, find fellow filmmaking collaborators and discuss new trends and developments in contemporary cinema and media.

The campus will be set up with different fields for directors, script writers and actors. At the campus, students will be directed by Vietnamese and international experts in research, discussion and practice.

Two conferences on Vietnamese movies in the renewal stage and development trends of the digital era will draw movie makers as well as cultural authorities.

Taking place at the Ha Noi Daewoo Hotel, an exhibition titled Viet Nam Movies in Renewal Stage will give a general view of the important steps made marking many recognised changes, developments and achievements in Vietnamese cinema.

The first Haniff was held in 2010 on the occasion of 1000th anniversary of Thang Long – Ha Noi, with the participation of 67 films and representatives of prestigious international festivals from Venice, Cannes, Busan, Hong Kong, Berlin and Toronto. — VNS