Light viewing: Ngay Nay Ngay Nay (The Lost Dragon), a comedy produced by Ngo Thanh Van, will be released for the Tet holiday. — Photo Courtesy of VAA Entertaiment

HCM CITY (VNS) — Movie star and pop singer/producer Ngo Thanh Van and her partner, Vietnamese-Canadian director Cuong Ngo, have worked on a new film, Ngay Nay Ngay Nay (The Lost Dragon), which will be screened this Tet (Lunar New Year holiday).

The 90-minute movie was filmed on a studio set built to resemble a 400-seat circus arena.

The film depicts the adventure of Dan Nuong (played by Van) and Tieu Duyen (by actress Le Khanh), who live on a planet far from the earth.

They are on a mission to discover the earth and its people. Both decide to live in a circus in HCM City, where they learn about love and friendship.

The film includes beautiful scenes of circus performances with soundtracks by the popular pop band 365.

Van invited veteran comedians Thanh Loc and Phi Phung to perfect her film.

After its trailer hit online last week, Ngay Nay Ngay Nay was praised by more than 40,000 viewers.

"Our film is like a song in praise of life," said Van, owner of the entertainment company VAA, one of the film's investors.

Although she is experienced in movies, Van worked hard to challenge herself as a producer.

"I wanted to discover and improve myself in a new field with talented colleagues like director Cuong Ngo," she said.

The film's director Ngo, an overseas Vietnamese, graduated in film production and directing from York University in Toronto.

Ngo has been involved in short films, TV commercials, documentaries, music videos and feature films.

His first feature film, Ngoc Vien Dong (Pearls of the Far East), was shot in Viet Nam, and was screened in both the US and Viet Nam last year.

The work features the lives of seven Vietnamese women of different backgrounds, starring Van and actresses such as Nhu Quynh, Hong Anh and Kieu Chinh.

It won top prizes for best music and best cinematography at the 2012 California Independent Film Festival, against competitors from Bulgaria and the US.

His latest film, Huong Ga (Rise), is an action and thriller production starring Truong Ngoc Anh and Kim Ly. Selected to screen at the third Ha Noi International Film Festival last year, the film was praised by audiences and critics.

Ngo divides his time between the US, Canada and Viet Nam.

Van began her movie career in 2004 by a leading role in Rouge, a TV 13-part series produced by the international channel MTV Asia, after spending years on the catwalk and in music.

In 2006, she played a leading role in Dong Mau Anh Hung (The Rebel), a kung-fu feature directed by Vietnamese-American Charlie Nguyen.

The film won the Grand Jury Award at 2007 Sharing Visions, a biennial international film festival for Vietnamese filmmakers around the world, held in Los Angeles.

"I have worked hard to balance my time in both music and cinema," said 36-year-old Van, who has performed in several films directed by talented domestic and Vietnamese overseas directors.

Ngay Nay Ngay Nay will hit cinemas on February 6. — VNS