For many people, it did not really sink in till recently that the appearance of Vietnamese films in international film festivals is an honor for the national movie industry, says People’s Artist and Director Dang Nhat Minh.
Winning an award at such festivals is a credit for the country, and this is being accepted now, he said, adding the many film festivals organized in countries with well developed movie industries are the best way to find a wider audience. the selfless Dr. Tr
“A film is a person. The artist has to do everything to bring his/her picture to the place where people pay attention to it. Every festival has its own criteria. Not all films, except works featuring new creativity can get people’s attention” said director Viet Linh.
Previously, most Vietnamese films were chosen and nominated for international film festivals by the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism. Therefore all the works were products of State owned-studios.
Now, private film companies have begun paying attention to taking part in international film fests to promote their pictures, like Phuoc Sang Entertainment’s Ao lua Ha Dong (Ha Dong Silk Dress) and Chanh Phuong Film Production Company’s “Bi, don't be afraid”.
However, given the very limited funds locally, it is not easy to produce films of international standards. Directors therefore are looking for foreign budgets, but to score over hundreds of competitors, they must prove their scripts and projects are special.
They must make a deep impression on investors who pay a special attention to films that capture distinct features of a nation’s culture.
Examples of such films include: Thuong Nho Dong Que (Nostalgia), Mua Oi (The Guava Season), Chung Cu (The Tenement House), Me Thao Thoi Vang Bong (The Glorious Time of Me Thao Hamlet), Mua Len Trau (Buffalo Boy), Thoi Xa Vang (A Distant Past), Trang noi day gieng (The Moon at the bottom of the well) and Choi voi (Adrift).
Among these, Trang noi day gieng won the “Best Actress” award for Asia-Africa category at the fifth Dubai International Film Festival in the United Arab Emirates, the honor going to actress Hong Anh. Meanwhile, Nguyen Vinh Son won the “Best Asian Director” award at the Imagine India Film Festival in Madrid.
Choi voi (Adrift), directed by Bui Thac Chuyen and produced by Feature Film Studio 1, won the Fipresci International Critics’ Prize at the 66th Venice Film Festival and the Best Sound Effects award at the 2009 Asia-Pacific Film Festival in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
“The exchange between different movie industries is very necessary for artists. I have learned a lot of interesting things from film festivals” said director Dang Nhat Minh.
Being chosen for an international film festival and winning awards are testament to the quality of a film, and will only help the domestic industry gain strength, said director Vinh Son.
