Da Nang (VNA) - Film audiencesin the central region will enjoy a week-long film festival screening Vietnam’sbest new and old films on the occasion of the 20th Vietnamese Film Festival.

The event, which officially opened onNovember 24, has drawn the participation of young and old actors, actresses,directors and filmmakers from across the country.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the 20thVietnamese Film Festival, he said Vietnamese filmmakers have made unforgettablefilms that have enriched the country’s national heritage.
 
He called it a significant event that marksthe 50th anniversary of ASEAN, strengthening friendship and solidarity amongdifferent nationalities.

“Generations of artists have made greatcontributions to the development of filmmaking and national culture. Despitedifficulties, Vietnam’s cinema industry has still produced unforgettable filmsto enrich the country’s cultural heritage,” Dam said.

“The renewal process, market economy andopen door policy have created more opportunities for the country’s cinemaindustry to change itself,” he said, adding that the industry should renew itsquality to win audiences.

The Deputy PM also urged ministries andrelevant agencies to boost cooperation with international friends and artistsin fostering innovation and creating new development mechanisms.

He praised the initiative of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism inoffering the ASEAN Film Awards.

The week-long festival has drawn the participation of young and old actors,actresses, directors and filmmakers from across the country.

Director Dang Nhat Minh, who chairs thejury for the feature category, said members struggled to choose the best amongthe 16 award-winning films this year.

Le Thi, who chaired the jury for thedocumentary category, was glad that this year’s festival attracted many youngdirectors with different styles, breathing new life into the country’s filmindustry.

Ngo Phuong Lan, head of the VietnamCinematography Department, said the festival viewers would appreciate thediverse topics of films at the festival.

“We have to offer a fresher festival tosatisfy the local audience,” Lan said, adding that the Video category was notincluded in the 20th festival.

“We have included the ASEAN Film Awards for the first time at the festival, andit’s an important event to mark the 50th anniversary of ASEAN this year.”

Lan said young audiences and students willhave the chance to talk with actors, actresses, directors and famous artists atcinemas after the film screenings.

Vice Minister of Culture, Sport andTourism, Vuong Duy Bien stressed the ASEAN Film Awards will highlight the identitiesand cultures of 10 ASEAN countries. He said the festival will also mark the65th anniversary of Vietnam Cinematography.

Also the day, a photo exhibition honouring64 film directors, actors and actresses who made great contributions to thecountry’s Cinematography opened at the city’s library.

Scriptwriter Doan Minh Tuan said directorsof animated cartoons should be honoured at the festival as they are relativelyunknown to Vietnamese audience.

He noted that directors, producers andwriters of cartoon films are often honoured biennially, which is notsufficient.

Roger Garcia, director of the InternationalFilm Festival Hong Kong, said he knew relatively little about Vietnamese film,but was impressed with a documentary film event in Hanoi.

He suggested Vietnam’s and ASEAN’s filmindustries have a rich tradition but are not well-known in the world.

“ASEAN’s film industry has strong potentialwith a huge market of more than 600 million people. However, it’s also achallenge for the regional film industry to integrate into the world,” Garciasaid. The regional film industry can take opportunities in co-production andco-finance with not only in the region but other countries like Japan.”

 Headded that the ASEAN Film Awards mark the first step towards fully establishingthe regional film industry.

The film Da Co Hoai Lang (Night DrumbeatsCause Longing for Absent Husband), a production about traditional Vietnameseculture by director Nguyen Quang Dung, has been chosen as the old Vietnamesefilm to be screened at the ASEAN Film Awards.

As planned, 16 feature films beganscreening at the city’s cinemas on November 24, along with 32 scientific anddocumentary films and 18 animated films.-VNA