Drama dreams: Young students of We Are Filmmakers project will compete at the Golden Lotus Bud awards. — Photo courtesy of the TPD

HA NOI  (VNS) — Nominations for the Golden Lotus Bud Awards 2015 were announced for two categories, short films and documentaries.

Among 108 documentaries and 17 short films, the organiser selected 10 nominees for each category. These entries, between 12 and 20 minutes long, will be screened this weekend at the Cong Nhan (Workers) Cinema.

"The entries express filmmakers' angles on different issues in everyday life," director Bui Thac Chuyen said.

"Beside familiar subjects like family and school, this year the filmmakers approached harder topics such as child marriage, domestic violence and gender equality."

"As the motto of the award is ‘I see, I feel, I share,' we expect the audience to see the filmmakers' lives through their eyes," Chuyen said.

Chuyen and some other including French filmmaker Julie Beziau, directors Nguyen Hoang Diep and cameraman Hoang Tat Phat made up the jury for the awards.

The annual Assistance and Development of Movie Talents (TPD) awards were organised for the first time in 2010. They feature the best short documentaries and short films, all made by participants in the We Are Filmmakers Project (WAFM).

WAFM is a long-term programme aimed to encourage young people to become involved in filmmaking. It was launched in 2009 by the Ha Noi-based TPD.

The films had budget limits set at VND5 million (US$250). The best entries will be screened at international film festivals organised at home and abroad.

The awarding ceremony will take place on August 2 at the Cong Nhan (Workers) Cinema, 42 Trang Tien Street, Ha Noi. — VNS