Flying high: A scene from Qua Tim Mau (Vengeful Heart) by director Victor Vu will compete at this year's Golden Kite Awards. — Photo 123phim.vn

HA NOI (VNS) — The lion's share of this year's Golden Kite Awards, Viet Nam Cinematography Association's version of the Oscars, will likely go to blockbuster favourites but other contenders aren't out of the running this March 12.

Blockbuster movies like De Mai Tinh 2 (Fool for Love), Chang Trai Nam Ay (The Man in the Past), Qua Tim Mau (Vengeful Heart), Huong Ga (Rise) and Scandal: Hao Quang Tro Lai (Scandal 2) are just a few of the 17 movies represented at the awards.

The movie Song Cung Lich Su (Living with History), which cost nearly US$1 million but was a massive box office flop, is one of the four State-commissioned movies at the awards this year.

One of this year's most talked about movies, Flapping in the Middle of Nowhere by Nguyen Hoang Diep which won awards at international film festivals, won't get to compete because the Association said its registration was too late.

The Golden Kite Awards, unlike other foreign film awards, give tiered prizes one Golden, or two Silver kites.

In addition to usual award categories like feature movie, animated feature, documentary and short films, new categories like the Journalism Choice Award to the best feature movie and an individual prize will be awarded.

The individual prize will go to a Vietnamese or overseas Vietnamese that took part in joint-venture movies.

"Both feature movies and television series that demonstrate creativity, human values and social impact will be honoured at the Golden Kite Awards this year," said Nguyen Thi Hong Ngat, the association's deputy chairwoman at a press conference earlier this week in HCM City.

The 11-member jury this year is chaired by Tran Luan Kim, chairman of the Viet Nam Cinematography Association.

The ceremony will honour two People's Artist recipients, Ngo Manh Lan and Nguyen The Anh for their contribution to national cinema.

Feature movie screenings with some of the board members will be available to the public at BHD Star Cinema Pham Hung, CGV Cinema Thao Dien and Tan Son Nhat Culture Centre. Tickets will be given out at the cinemas from March 5 to 8.

The awards will also celebrate Vietnamese Cinema Day which comes a few days later on March 15.

The ceremony will be held in Queen Hall, Convention Centre, HCM City. — VNS